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A Letter to the OrKidstra Family

05.06.2020 OrKidstra In The Community, Teaching Artists

To our dearest OrKidstra family,

The last week has been heartbreaking to see the injustice, discrimination and division in the U.S. Sadly this inequality is not only in the U.S., it is in Canada and the world over. We hope that this moment in history will be the time of real change.

We stand together knowing that OrKidstra is a family with the core values of love, courage and excellence. Playing and singing together gives our kids a voice that transcends social, linguistic and cultural differences and creates a joyful community that celebrates diversity.

Kathryn Patricia Cobbler, a remarkable Teaching Artist who has worked with OrKidstra for many years, wrote the following e-mail to her OrKidstra students. It was so powerful, inspiring and moving that we asked her if we could share it with our full OrKidstra family and happily she agreed. In her response, she thanked OrKidstra for helping to build a community where all students can experience safety, love and care, as they learn and grow as citizen artists.

Thank you Ms. Kathryn for embodying love, courage and excellence.

Tina Fedeski, MSM, CEO & Artistic Director, on behalf of OrKidstra

Dear OrKidstra Students:

I was preparing to send out weekly lesson plans and thought about sending an email as if it were “any other week,” but felt the need to address the current life events.

Many of you may be aware of the events in the news, as related to the injustices that are prevalent in our world today.

In reflection on this, my own experience as a black woman, a violist and teaching artist, I wanted to take the time to address race and how it applies to us as musicians.

To all our students, I want to say that at OrKidstra we value each of you, your character and your unique voices. It is because of all of you, that I have hope for a world that will be filled with people who know how to be good citizens and take care of each other well.

To our students of colour, I want you to take heart. You belong to a community that sees and knows you; your voices are both precious and valuable. Something we need to remember is that it was not always seen as acceptable for people of colour to engage in classical music, but was made possible by many composers, performers and educators of colour who paved the way for us.

Below you will find links to some of my favourite pieces from a few of the many black composers along with some of their life stories. Through their artistic excellence they have contributed greatly (and for the living composers continue to contribute) to the field of classical music:

    • Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint- Georges
      • Violin Concerto in G Major, Op. 2 No.
    • Florence Beatrice Price
      • Symphony No. 1, E minor
    • Adolphus Hailstork
      • Sanctum Rhapsody for viola and piano
      • Two Romances for viola and chamber orchestra (excerpt)
    • Jesse Montgomery
      • Starburst, for string orchestra


Wishing you all a wonderful week,

Warmly,

Ms. Kathryn (Kathryn Patricia Cobbler), OrKidstra Teaching Artist

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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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