Youth orchestra sings praises for musical donations

The New Brunswick Youth Orchestras first instrument drive is being hailed a success after it pulled in dozens of donations.

Organizers had aimed to collect about a dozen instruments, but were given more than 60 tambourines, tubas and other items.

The donations will help expand the orchestras El Sistema after-school program, whichexposes children to music.

El Sistema director David Parkersaid they were overwhelmed by the response.

"These are pretty good, actually," he said as he examined the haul. "Some of them have been sitting in basements for over 40 years, unused, but guess what? They still work."

Expanding to Saint John

El Sistema is entering its third year in Moncton and is set to start in Saint John next month. More than 200 children will participate there and Ken MacLeod, chairman of NBYO, saidunwanted instrumentsare still being collected.

"What better destination than to a child who couldn't imagine in their lifetime holding an instrument, let alone learning to play it or being part of an orchestra?" he said.

"I think of these as instruments of hope and instruments of joy, and they really are instruments of change for young kids who otherwise might not have an opportunity like this."

NBYO will run the drive again next year.

El Sistema started in the poor barrios of Venezuela, offering any enthusiastic and dedicated child the instrument of her choice and free lessons. More than 350,000 children now participate in the South American country's program.