News
CORINNE FITZHERBERT THE VICTORIA STAR
A program that provides local children with the opportunity to play a musical instrument and be part of an orchestra has received financial support from the Perth-Andover Rotary Club.
On Monday, Sept. 28, the club presented $2,000 to Dave Halpine, director of the Sistema NB program located at Tobique First Nation.
Now in its third year, the program has been a great success and boasts some accomplished young musicians. Children from Andover Elementary School and Mah-Sos School can join the program and receive after-school musical instruction every day at no cost. The children learn to play either the violin or cello and to perform as part of an orchestra. The center at Tobique is one of several Sistema programs in the province and the list recently expanded to include a new center in Edmundston.
Halpine thanked the Rotary Club for providing the support.
“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Halpine said. “Obviously, Sistema is something that I believe in and I’m glad that it’s a shared vision that we have in the community.”
Halpine said there has been a “huge” increase in numbers and interest in Sistema this year which bodes well for the future of the program. There are now 48 children taking part.
“We have about 25 new recruits and that’s exciting,”he said.
Support from the Perth-Andover Rotary Club indicates the pride the community is taking in seeing Sistema NB continue to grow and develop.
“The kids are stronger and better for it every day,” he noted. “I’m pleased to have Rotary champion Sistema for us.”
Rotary club members said they wanted to support Sistema because it provides local children with a unique opportunity.
