Sistema NB musicians are featured Canadian ensemble at World Congress in Toronto
SEPT. 22, 2025: MONCTON, N.B.: New Brunswick’s youngest ambassadors are making another musical trek this fall, representing New Brunswick and Canada at ’The Promise of Music: The First World Congress on the Social Impact of Music’.
The Promise of Music is an historic gathering where orchestras, soloists, visionary artists, educators and changemakers from over 20 countries unite to affirm a powerful truth: music changes lives.
From October 6–10, 2025, audiences will experience five days of public concerts, workshops, conversations, and films featuring a stellar lineup that includes Viggo Mortensen, A.R. Rahman and Chilly Gonzales alongside Sistema New Brunswick and others. The Congress is both a celebration and a call to action, championing music as indispensable to humanity, music education as every child’s birthright, and the universal language of music as a force for building healthier, flourishing, and connected communities worldwide.
The Sistema New Brunswick Children’s Orchestra, recognized as one of the leading music-for-social-impact programs, both in Canada and internationally, will be the featured Canadian ensemble at The Promise of Music – one hundred children, ages 9-15, from Sistema NB programs across New Brunswick
In addition to an opening night performance, they will be joined on October 8 by 28 young musicians from Sistema Toronto to perform Wil
d Symphony, composed by Dan Brown, the internationally acclaimed author of The Da Vinci Code. Their orchestral performance will be brought to life through a captivating visual display and narration by Academy Award-nominated actor Viggo Mortensen. In 2024, Sistema NB made history as the first children’s orchestra ever to perform Wild Symphony in a celebrated series of concerts across New Brunswick, with Dan Brown himself in attendance.
Kenn Mainville, New Brunswick Youth Orchestra CEO, said the invitation is recognition from event organizers on Sistema NB’s scale of work, and deep and lasting impact.
“Sistema New Brunswick has become a national and international leader in music for social development. We’ve demonstrated a small province can achieve big things, since our beginning in 2009 reaching over 8,000 children through free, high-intensity orchestral programming,” Mainville said. “Our participation will certainly inspire others by showing what’s possible when music is used with purpose, equity, and high standards.”
Ken MacLeod, Founder and Strategic Advisor for Sistema NB, said all New Brunswickers can be proud of these young musicians.
“They work hard, three hours after school, five days a week for the school year. They support each other and strive together for excellence in all performances. Their high level of achievement in music performance is recognized at home, in Canada and internationally. They are ambassadors for our great province, and we can be proud of them,” MacLeod said.
The combined Sistema orchestras will be featured in four performances, the opening night gala on Oct. 6, two concerts on Oct. 8 at Koerner Hall, and a special performance for students. Tony Delgado, NBYO Music Director and Maestro, said “Toronto audiences will experience a Children’s Orchestra that will surpass any expectations with their skills, musicality and most of all, their energy,”.
Mainville said the logistics of transporting 100 children plus staff, volunteer chaperones and instruments by bus to Toronto is a major undertaking.
“This is more than a trip; it’s an investment in our mission. The entire experience is supported by the Glenn Gould Foundation, ‘Wild Symphony’ performance sponsors, Robert and Ellen Eisenberg, and donations from other generous individuals who believe in the power of music to transform lives. There
is no cost to the children or their families which demonstrates a deep commitment to equity and accessibility,” Mainville said.
It will be the first chance for many of the Sistema NB musicians to see Canada’s largest city.
“Experiencing other amazing groups and musicians, like ours, will be truly inspiring. Being celebrated in such important event will make the connection between their hard work and discipline and the outcomes,” Delgado said. Ken MacLeod and Kenn Mainville also will participate as Forum Speakers at the Congress. Mainville will talk about ‘Music Education – Transforming Children’s Lives’ and MacLeod will speak on ‘Lessons Learned – The Sweet Sounds of Success from Winning Music Programs’. MacLeod said he hopes Congress attendees will be inspired by Sistema NB’s achievements.
“After more than 20 years of leadership with the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra and Sistema NB, I am convinced music and the orchestra is an exquisite tool for the development of our young people,” MacLeod said. “Today, alumni of Sistema NB are furthering their studies in university in a wide range of disciplines and careers. Those pursuing music are winning national competitions and receiving top scholarships from the top music sc
hools in Canada. We are demonstrating that our kids can achieve at the highest levels and compete on any stage, anywhere.”
MacLeod said Sistema New Brunswick, a free, after-school orchestral music program providing opportunity for children who otherwise might be left out of opportunity, was launched in 2009 with one centre and 50 children. The program has grown to 11 New Brunswick communities, engaging 1,450 children and supported by 75 Teaching Artists.
“The most important part is the profound, positive impact on the now more than 8,000 children who participated in Sistema NB since it began. For our children, school attendance improves, they are more focused and disciplined and academic performance improves. And children gain the confidence and self esteem that comes from achievement in music and as part of the orchestra. How exciting is that?”