Join the El Sistema Multicultural Orchestra to hear a local youth orchestra in action!
El Sistema Calgary Multicultural Orchestra Foundation is a registered organization with the purpose to create, implement and operate music programs for children and youth who might not otherwise have an opportunity to learn music, for people with special needs and/or at-risk behaviour. The Foundation promotes healthy social development of multicultural children and youth from low-income families and communities through quality and inclusive musical activities.
The main scope of the Foundation is the Calgary Multicultural Orchestra (CMO), a free afterschool music program running in Calgary, AB, at Sir Wilfrid Laurier school. It aims to keep children and youth engaged in positive activities in critical hours. CMO uses a proven social-change model called 'el Sistema' to offer after-school music activities, orchestra rehearsals, and performances to children ages 6-16. El Sistema is an internationally acclaimed program that uses music as an agent of social development. Originating in 1975 in Venezuela, it has helped thousands of children around the world to learn, play, and share the music. The program has been adopted internationally, and currently operates in over 40 countries, including Canada, the United States, and Great Britain.
The CMO teaches the joy and discipline of learning a musical instrument and the camaraderie and teamwork of ensemble playing. It provides a positive, supervised, after-school activity to implement and develop the value of commitment, respect, and effort and provides a thrilling, creative, and positively challenging learning environment that has proven results in changing social behaviours of young people for the better.
The Calgary Multicultural Orchestra program has been in activity since 2009... that's 10 years of working with children, their families, and the Calgary community, improving lives through the power of music!
Scotiabank Backbeat provides regular weekend activations for families, children, and general visitors of all ages, including pop-up music performances, hands-on activities, presentations from community partners, and more.
Scotiabank Backbeat is supported by
