OrKidstra Appoints Ms. Danielle Girard as New Artistic Managing Director
Ottawa, ON — October 23, 2026 — OrKidstra – Sistema Ottawa is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Danielle Girard as its new Artistic Managing Director, following a national search to identify the next artistic leader for the organization’s award-winning during and after-school music and social development programs.
As Artistic Managing Director, Ms. Danielle will lead the artistic vision and program development of OrKidstra’s award-winning during and after-school programs, working in close collaboration with the Executive Managing Director, Ms. Carrie Lauzon, through the organization’s co-leadership model. Together, they will ensure continued excellence in programming while supporting sustainable growth and expanded access for youth from equity-deserving communities.
As a violinist, educator, and award-winning researcher, she has supported equitable access to music education throughout her career. After picking up her great-grandfather’s fiddle at the age of 12, Ms. Danielle began violin lessons and soon after had the opportunity to participate in her school orchestra program, where she first experienced the joy of making music with others. Resonating with OrKidstra’s mission to empower kids and build community through music, her passion for sharing music with others has inspired her journey as a teacher throughout many community music programs in Canada and the United States.
Having already attained a Bachelor of Music (Performance) from Western University and a Master of Music (Performance) from the University of Toronto, Ms. Danielle is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Music Education at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. She comes to OrKidstra with 15 years of teaching experience in programs such as Sistema Toronto, Sistema NB, the Indiana University String Academy, and the Fairview Violin Project. She is a Suzuki-certified violin teacher and has taught individual, group, and string orchestra classes for students from age 3 to 75.
Ms. Danielle’s doctoral research focuses on family engagement and the experiences of historically marginalized families in music education. She has presented at multiple national and international conferences and was recognized by the American Educational Research Association with the Outstanding Graduate Paper of the Year in Music Education in 2025. She has published her work in the Journal of Research in Music Education.
“I am honoured to join OrKidstra and to be part of a community that places building community and belonging at its heart,” said Ms. Danielle. “It has been a privilege to work alongside the talented students, their families, and our dedicated team to continue building a space where every child feels seen, supported, and inspired through music.”
From September to June, OrKidstra’s in-school and after-school programs are filled with the energy of more than 850 students learning, playing and singing together. Across three community Hubs and partner schools in Ottawa, children and youth from equity-deserving communities build confidence, develop friendships, and discover their potential through making music together. Behind this busy programming is thoughtful coordination and a deep commitment to each child’s development, both as a musician and as a person.
As its Artistic Managing Director, Ms. Danielle has joined OrKidstra at an exciting time in the organization’s evolution. Demand for OrKidstra’s music programming continues to grow. Preparations are underway to launch a fourth community Hub in partnership with Carlington Community Health Centre in January 2027. Ms. Danielle’s appointment supports this growth and reflects OrKidstra’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to high-quality music education and social development for children and youth across Ottawa. Ms. Danielle shares the OrKidstra team’s deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and artistic excellence.
“Ms. Danielle stood out among other candidates not only for her artistic leadership and experience, but for her genuine connection to our youth, our values, and the community we serve,” said Chayanika Abeysekera Lutes, Chair of the Board of Directors. “We are confident that she will build on the extraordinary foundation established by our co-founder, Ms. Tina Fedeski (affectionately known as Ms. Tina), and help guide OrKidstra into its next chapter.”
Ms. Danielle succeeds OrKidstra Co-Founder Ms. Tina Fedeski, whose visionary leadership helped grow the organization from a small program in 2007 into one of Canada’s leading Sistema-inspired programs. After more than 19 years of leadership, Ms. Tina has transitioned to the role of Co-Founder Emerita and Social Development Advisor and will continue to support OrKidstra through mentorship and strategic guidance – and continuing teaching!
This leadership transition reflects years of intentional planning and aligns with OrKidstra’s strategic direction to strengthen its co-leadership model and expand its reach. Through our waitlist, demand for OrKidstra programs grew almost 250% last year. Despite the pressures associated with this level of demand, OrKidstra remains committed to providing barrier-free, high-quality music education and social development programming for as many children and youth as possible to nurture confidence, leadership, and a strong sense of belonging among participants.
NOTE: Representatives of OrKidstra can be made available for interviews on radio or television at mutually agreed upon times with sufficient notice.
About OrKidstra – Sistema Ottawa
OrKidstra empowers children and builds community through music. Through free, long-term music education, mentorship, and leadership programs, more than 800 children and youth ages 5 to 18 from equity-deserving Ottawa communities participate each year, representing more than 62 linguistic and cultural backgrounds. At the heart of OrKidstra are its core values of Love, Courage, Excellence, and Belonging.
Media Contacts:
Chelsea Dunn McIntyre
Director of Development & Communications
OrKidstra – Sistema Ottawa
Orkidstra.ca
development@orkidstra.ca | 613-261-4600
