“Notes of Love”: a resounding success
On Valentine’s Day—February 14, 2025—OrKidstra hosted Notes of Love, a heartwarming evening of music and community that brought together supporters, families, and new friends to celebrate the transformative power of music. On this special night, OrKidstra and the National Arts Centre Orchestra (NACO) performed together side-by-side for the first time at the beautiful Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre in support of OrKidstra. With an overwhelming turnout and generosity from our community, this sold-out event was an incredible success!
Our attendees’ energy and generosity helped raise vital funds that will help sustain and expand our programming, allowing us to continue empowering young people through the power of music—thank you!
Our warmest thanks to the National Arts Centre Orchestra for their generous collaboration on this event in support of OrKidstra. We would also like to thank our Event Sponsors Brookfield Renewable, Watson’s Pharmacy & Compounding Centre, and ECIVDA, along with in-kind contributions from Epicuria, Carleton University – Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Diffusart Media, and Greg Allison Photography, who made a big impact on the success of the evening. Special thanks as well to our 23 dedicated event volunteers who played an essential role in ensuring the event’s success and the tireless work of our amazing staff and Teaching Artists.
The Unforgettable Performance
The evening featured breathtaking side-by-side performances with OrKidstra and the National Arts Centre Orchestra (NACO), marking the first collaboration of its kind. OrKidstra’s young musicians, alongside the talented NACO musicians, performed with extraordinary passion and skill, proving that music truly has the power to unite and inspire. Notes of Love was a musical tribute to how love enriches our lives as Canadians—from the joy of childhood, to the celebration of spring, to the harmony of community and belonging. The musical program included music by many Canadian composers including Oscar Peterson, Marie-Claire Saindon, and OrKidstra’s own Margaret Maria alongside favourites by Beethoven, Bernstein, Prokofiev and many others. Click here to view the concert program.
To prepare for this concert, OrKidstra students began rehearsing the concert repertoire in the fall of 2024 and rehearsals with the National Arts Centre Orchestra began in January 2025. The concert was a beautiful testament to the talent, dedication, and hard work of OrKidstra’s students and the unwavering support of the community.
Leading the performance were Guest Conductor Henry Kennedy, NACO Resident Conductor; OrKidstra Conductors Margaret Maria, OrKidstra Co-Founder, and Sonia Caceres Rivera, Artistic Manager (Strings). The evening was skillfully hosted by Master of Ceremonies Paul Wells, whose engaging presence added to the magic of the event.
Thank you for filling every note with love!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, donated, volunteered, and supported this event. Your contributions help OrKidstra continue creating opportunities for young people to find their voice through music. The energy, love, and community spirit that filled the venue made Notes of Love an unforgettable celebration.
Explore these heartwarming moments captured during the event:
Get Involved!
Want to be part of OrKidstra’s mission? Here’s how you can help:
- Donate today to support free music programs for children in underserved communities
- Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on future events and impact stories.
- Follow us on social media to see how music transforms lives every day. Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Youtube
