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“10 Stories of Possibility” – Meet tomorrow’s leaders!

06.07.2017

The OrKidstra logo with the word "Possibility" underneath
Four teens who are graduating from OrKidstra stand with one adult, Ms. Tina, who is looking very proud of them.
(From L to R) OrKidstra graduate David (French horn), OrKidstra graduate Derek (French horn), Ms. Tina (who is looking very proud!), OrKidstra graduate Kina (violin) and OrKidstra graduate Celeste (flute) at the 2017 End-of-Year Concert. Photo compliments of Robert S. Vibert (RSV Photography).

In honour of our 10th Anniversary year, and our 10 Leading Notes, here is the sixth of 10 very special stories about the wonderful possibilities that can happen when kids experience the joys and challenges of making music at OrKidstra! Look out for a new story of possibility at the beginning of each month and click here for the previous stories.

“10 Stories of Possibility” – Today’s grads, tomorrow’s leaders!

It’s a very proud moment. Four teenagers stand on the stage – they are smiling – they know how hard they’ve worked and how much they’ve accomplished to get to this moment. David (18), Celeste (17), Derek (17), and Kina (18): these outstanding young women and men are OrKidstra’s graduates of 2017.

BY THE NUMBERS

  • 100% of OrKidstra graduates complete high school and go on to post-secondary education
  • 100% of OrKidstra graduates, who were of age, voted in the last federal, provincial or municipal election (compared to the national average of 68% in the 2015 federal election)
  • 100% of OrKidstra graduates feel that OrKidstra has helped them develop important skills like time management, goal setting, musicianship, teamwork, social skills, confidence, empathy and leadership

David, Celeste, Derek and Kina are sad to leave their OrKidstra family, but also excited about the next chapter of their lives: all four graduates will be continuing onto post-secondary education. Derek and Kina will be staying closer to home and attending Carleton University and the University of Ottawa respectively, while David and Celeste will venture outside of Ottawa to Canada Christian College in Toronto and McGill University in Montreal respectively. With some serious scholarships under their belts, these four students will be studying in a diverse range of fields including Political Science, Music, Computer Science and Biomedical Science.

A young man holds a graduation cap. He is smiling.
OrKidstra graduate David tries on his graduation cap at the 2017 End-of-Year Concert.
Photo compliments of Robert S. Vibert.

French horn player and new OrKidstra graduate David – who speaks French, Haitian Creole and English – says, “OrKidstra has helped me out big time. I’ve become much more confident in myself through my experiences at OrKidstra.” Violin player and OrKidstra graduate Kina – who speaks Tigrinia, Belene and English – was in the very first violin class in 2007. Now 18, Kina will be attending the University of Ottawa in the fall working towards an Honours BSc in Biomedical Science.

Even though they won’t be coming to OrKidstra every day after school anymore, all four graduates want to stay involved with OrKidstra in the future if they can – as a mentor, teacher, supporter, volunteer or performer – and keep OrKidstra and music as a part of their lives. David says, “When I play the French horn, I feel great! I live and breathe music… It’s always there for me… Every event with OrKidstra has been a wonderful experience. Thank you for your support: without you playing your part, there would be no OrKidstra. We need to help change the lives of children while they’re young.”

You can help youth from under-served Ottawa areas – youth like Celeste, Derek, David and Kina – to graduate and achieve their goals.

Donate to OrKidstra today!  


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Photography and videography provided in part by Robert S. Vibert, Fangliang Xu, Greg Allison and Jith Paul (Treepot Media).

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Families are welcome to submit applications for new students throughout the year. Fall class admissions for 2020 will take place in September and October. Please note, due to COVID-19, all programming will take place virtually (OrKidstra @ Home) until it is safe to return to Hub-based physical programming.

Choose your Ottawa neighbourhood:

  • Centretown/West Centretown Fields

  • Thank you for your interest in OrKidstra's online programming, OrKidstra @ Home. We are now accepting registrations for children aged 5-8 to our KiddlyWinks classes, and 8+ to our KidSingers and KidDrummers classes, beginning mid-October 2020. All classes take place after school.

    Please note: due to the restrictions of COVID-19 and the nature of our current online programming, instrumental classes will NOT be offered to new students at this time.


    Please tick the box beside the program that interests your child:

    If your child is 8+, you may select both KidDrummers and KidSingers.

  • KiddlyWinks and KidSingers Programs * Required
  • Vanier/Overbrook Fields

  • Thank you for your interest in OrKidstra's online programming, OrKidstra @ Home. We are now accepting registrations for children aged 5-8 to our KiddlyWinks classes, and 8+ to our KidSingers and KidDrummers classes, beginning mid-October 2020. All classes take place after school.

    Please note: due to the restrictions of COVID-19 and the nature of our current online programming, instrumental classes will NOT be offered to new students at this time.


    Please tick the box beside the program that interests your child:

    If your child is 8+, you may select both KidDrummers and KidSingers.

  • KiddlyWinks and KidSingers Programs * Required
  • Ledbury – Heron Gate – Ridgemont Fields

  • Thank you for your interest in OrKidstra's online programming, OrKidstra @ Home. We are now accepting registrations for children aged 5-8 to our KiddlyWinks classes, and 8+ to our KidSingers and KidDrummers classes, beginning mid-October 2020. All classes take place after school.

    Please note: due to the restrictions of COVID-19 and the nature of our current online programming, instrumental classes will NOT be offered to new students at this time.


    Please tick the box beside the program that interests your child:

    If your child is 8+, you may select both KidDrummers and KidSingers.

  • KiddlyWinks and KidSingers Programs * Required
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  • The OrKidstra program exists in order to inspire music-making in our children within a great community setting - and the goal of the OrKidstra is to make this program available to all families. The majority of our students participate free of charge.

    With this in mind, once we have reviewed your application, a fee may be requested based on your family’s financial situation. This will help cover the many costs, such as teachers, instruments and rent, ensuring that this community program will continue to be available to children who would not otherwise be able to participate. Our program will remain very affordable for all families.


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  • Please note that admission is not guaranteed. As class sizes are limited, priority will go to children who live in the Ottawa neighbourhoods listed above, as well as families of lesser means. Any students not accepted will be put on a wait-list and may be offered a spot should any become available.

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