In 2009, the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra (NBYO) launched an El Sistema inspired program in Moncton and adopted a four-year plan to expand and replicate the program throughout the province. Sistema New Brunswick, as it is now called, now operates 6 centers, in Moncton, Saint John, Richibucto, the Tobique First Nation, Edmundston, and Miramichi and engages more than 700 children daily. I was invited to speak at their Sistema Summit in 2011 and Teachers and Leaders Conference in 2012. Seeing their program in its infancy was incredibly inspiring as Play On, Philly! was being established in 2011. Returning six years after my first trip to New Brunswick, it was incredible to see and hear the progress they have made in 8 years. They have expanded to serve First Nation communities, grown a faculty of almost 60 Teaching Artists and developed one of the strongest youth orchestra programs throughout all of Canada. I congratulate the teams throughout the Sistema New Brunswick network! Congratulations to the teams in Richibucto, Moncton, Hillsboro and St. John!
