Young musicians hit all the notes at Riptide game

Photos and Article by MICHAEL ROBINSON TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

Conductor Michael DePasquale gets ready to direct the Sistema New Brunswick’s Saint John Centre musicians at halftime during the Saint John Riptide and Windsor Express match-up on Wednesday night. 

Johnson Mazimpaka of the Sistema New Brunswick’s Saint John Centre plays the trombone for the Riptide crowd at halftime during Wednesday night’s match-up against the Windsor Express.

Victoria Lingley of the of the Sistema NB youth orchestra plays the flute for the Riptide crowd at halftime during Wednesday night’s match-up against the Windsor Express.

Nathan Hillier of the Sistema New Brunswick’s Saint John Centre plays the clarinet for the Riptide crowd at halftime during Wednesday night’s match-up against the Windsor Express.

More than 70 young musicians from Sistema New Brunswick in Saint John took centre stage at the Saint John Riptide’s halftime show Wednesday evening.

Under the direction of conductor Michael DePasquale, the elementary-school aged group kicked off the game with a booming performance of “O Canada,” followed by a halftime show featuring classics such as Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” and the fast-paced“Mexican Overture.”

The mission of the free daily after-school program is to nurture self-confidence and foster better citizens while developing talented musicians at the same time, according to the organization’s website.

First-year students play all string instruments. After passing the initial stages, they have the option to pursue other instruments - such as brass.

The program star ted in 2009 with 50 children in Moncton. Today, the non-profit has upwards of 1,000 children enrolled across eight Sistema NB centres throughout the province.

“What an exciting event for our Sistema NB kids to be part of,” said Ken MacLeod, CEO of Sistema NB.“Through the Sistema NB program, our goal is to provide opportunity and teach the life skill that will help our young people to succeed. Thank you to the Saint John Riptide for allowing our kids to be a part of the Wednesday’s event. Like the team, they practise hard to give their best on game night.”