Ukulele Voyage Brings Harmony and Confidence to Moncton Classrooms
At Magnetic Hill School, the sound of strumming ukuleles fills the air as grade five students take part in Ukulele Voyage—a new Sistema New Brunswick initiative designed to inspire a lifelong love of music.
The six-week pilot, offered in partnership with the Anglophone East School District, introduces students to the joy of ensemble music-making through the ukulele, an accessible instrument that helps bridge the gap between elementary and middle school music programs.
“The students are loving the program,” said music teacher Linda Touchie, who leads the sessions. “They’re excited to take their instruments home to practice!”
For students like Foster, the experience is both fun and educational: “I really like how we get to strum a lot of the strings and learn new notes. It’s really fun when everyone’s in harmony.”
The program is currently running in five Moncton-area schools, engaging 230 students. It will culminate in a December concert featuring the young ukulele players performing alongside the Tutta Musica Orchestra and renowned ukulele virtuoso James Hill.
Sistema NB founder Ken MacLeod says the goal is simple: “We just want to engage more kids in ensemble music-making. It’s such a powerful way to help young people achieve their potential.”
Click the link to hear the full story from producer Maeve McFadden, as heard on Information Morning Moncton on Tuesday October 28th, 2025