Building Futures Through Music
By Emily Putnam
In 2007, driven by a deep belief in the power of music, Carleton Honorary Degree recipient Tina Fedeski co-founded OrKidstra alongside Gary McMillen and Margaret Maria. Inspired by the Sistema model, the program uses music to empower children and strengthen communities.
“We were deeply motivated to remove barriers and open a world of possibilities for children from under-served communities.”
“At the heart of OrKidstra is the beautiful combination of musicianship and citizenship, which encourages kids from equity-deserving communities to find their voice through music,” says Fedeski.
From its inaugural class of 27 students, over 750 children and youth ages 5-18 from 62 linguistic and cultural backgrounds currently participate in OrKidstra’s free programs.
Fedeski was awarded the degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa, in the Fall of 2024 in recognition of her visionary leadership and extraordinary dedication to fostering positive change for youth through music.
“I was, and still am, both deeply honoured and a little gobsmacked to be given such an honour for creating a dream – and it, of course, took an extraordinary village.”
Fedeski says her goal is not to create virtuoso musicians but to help nurture virtuoso human beings.
Student Perspectives
Mariam Krayem, a local high school student who will graduate in June, has participated in OrKidstra’s programming since 2017.
She says her favourite part about OrKidstra is the community she found within it.
“We were able to create lasting friendships with each other that translated into a sense of collaboration and ensemble. OrKidstra became something I looked forward to every week because I felt like I was a part of a special and big community.”
A highlight of Krayem’s time in OrKidstra was a collaboration concert called Notes of Love in February of this year. The event featured the OrKidstra ensemble and the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
“It gave us the opportunity of a lifetime to showcase our musical passion and to gain hands-on experience with inspiring professional musicians. It was an unforgettable night for the audience and for ourselves,” says Krayem.
“One moment that stays with me is performing at the 2017 Juno Awards with Ruth B. We were backstage at the Canadian Tire Centre, with massive cameras at every angle, roaring applause from the crowd, and Ruth B playing beautifully as we waited for our cue. I remember sitting shoulder to shoulder with friends who felt more like family, and feeling the weight and wonder of that moment. After hours of practice and countless rehearsals, there we were, broadcast into homes across the country. My phone lit up afterwards with messages from friends, family, and spectators who had seen me on TV. That experience reminded me of how far we had come and how much further we could go.” Amar Marouf, OrKidstra Board Member and Graduate
She explains that the team at OrKidstra inspires her to be the best version of herself.
“My teacher and mentor, Tina Fedeski, once voiced something that will stick with me for life. She said, “It is important to have a generous spirit.”
At first, I didn’t quite understand what it meant to have a generous spirit. I now see that Ms.Tina and OrKidstra have been teaching me all these years to have a generous spirit. That means giving unconditional love, time and help to others. It means making small or big sacrifices for the greater good.”
Fedeski says her message to others is that it’s important to be curious and to follow your dreams and passions.
“Music has changed my life. Sometimes you can’t think of what to say, but playing music helps me let my feelings out.” Beryl, OrKidstra Student (Violin)
“The joys and challenges of playing an instrument require grit – passion, perseverance, and creativity – and singing and playing together teaches all of us how to create a community out of very diverse parts, how to listen with your heart as well as your head, how to collaborate and build something bigger and more beautiful than our individual selves. These lessons, we believe, will serve not only our students but our community and, in turn, our world,” says Fedeski.
She notes that mentorship and respect, which are integral to their program, bring together different experiences and perspectives.
“OrKidstra’s students demonstrate how the power of music gives them a voice and a confidence that transcends differences and celebrates love, courage, excellence, and belonging. The kids often describe OrKidstra as their other family.”
Supporting the Community
OrKidstra has a year-to-year student retention rate of over 90%, and all of their programming is located in neighbourhoods with some of the highest equity concerns in Ottawa.
Their Centre Hub is located at the Bronson Centre and the Vanier Hub is at Ottawa Technical Secondary School.
In April of 2024, OrKidstra launched programming in Heron Gate.
According to a 2024 Ottawa Neighborhood study, over 30% of Heron Gate youth live in poverty as compared to the Ottawa average of 10.7%. According to the same survey, there is a 79.8% graduation rate in Heron Gate compared to Ottawa’s average graduation rate of 93.5%.
To combat socioeconomic barriers, OrKidstra’s programming provides healthy snacks to those who may be struggling with food insecurity and ensures that the OrKidstra hubs are geographically accessible for those with transportation obstacles.
“One of our proudest notes of success is that every student who graduates from OrKidstra not only graduates from high school but goes on to post-secondary education,” says Fedeski.
“OrKidstra taught me core skills like leadership, discipline, and time management… a lot of my closest friends are still from OrKidstra. They are my second family… I couldn’t have gone (to the program) if the hub wasn’t so close (to my home).” – Rinila, OrKidstra graduate
Looking Forward
Building on their strong foundation of social development through music education, a goal of OrKidstra over the next three years is to develop an “KidHarmony” toolkit of life skills and values for children. They will share the toolkit with youth organizations within Ottawa and beyond.
They also plan to build their current hub in Heron Gate to capacity and hope to open a fourth hub over the next few years.
The development of a Fellowship program for Teaching Artists and arts administrators is also in the works within the community of Sistema Canada Network and Canadian universities and colleges.
“Seventeen years ago, starting at the end didn’t mean we had a clear pathway on how OrKidstra would evolve, far from it! But we knew in our bones we had to break down barriers so all children could have the chance to find their voice through the transformative power of making music together,” says Fedeski.
“This is what mattered to us, and that is what gave us the courage of our convictions to trust ourselves and keep moving forward. So, while we may never arrive, we have always known where we are going!”