Sistema-Toronto

What could Toronto, and Canada, learn from the violent barrios of poverty-stricken Venezuela about social change... and music?

We are about to find out.

Venezuela is home to a program so extraordinary it has being hailed as transformational for its citizens and its society. And children are its champions!

Over 350,000 underprivileged kids are now part of El Sistema (the System) and the idea is simple. Any child who comes through the door showing enough enthusiasm and commitment to learn gets the instrument of their choice and free instruction every weekday afternoon and Saturday mornings.

The kids wind up working hard at their craft.  And their hard work is being noticed...from 60 Minutes to concert stages the world over. Today, El Sistema is not only producing transformational social change, it is producing among the best musicians in the world.

Toronto businessman and social activist Robert Eisenberg, inspired by the 2009 Celebration of Music Week sponsored by the Glenn Gould Foundation that featured the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra and musicians of El Sistema, came away from the experience with the determined passion of bringing the hope-inspired programs of Sistema back to the disadvantaged children of his hometown. Together with violinist, educator and administrator  David Visentin, the two created Sistema-Toronto. Sistema-Toronto has aligned itself with “El Sistema" Venezuela and is working in collaboration with Sistema New Brunswick, Leading Note (Ottawa), El Sistema - USA and the rapidly-growing number of Sistema-based programs throughout the world. 

The dream of a program such as Sistema-Toronto comes from a deeply-held belief that children have immense potential to transcend circumstances and transform themselves. Within limits. Overwhelming economic, emotional and spiritual threats pose enormous limiting challenges to the development of human potential.  Sistema-Toronto will directly challenge these limits by providing high-level instruction within an immersive learning environment guided by achievable goals and measured by actual performance. And by counting smiles!

As a counter-agent to tackling illiteracy and social alienation for children and youth, Sistema-Toronto also dreams of a future “El Sistema Canada", in centres throughout the country; all unique and independant, yet linked in their commitment to achieving human potential  through physical/mental/artistic engagement, discipline and teamwork through the study and performance of  music.

Sistema-Toronto  launched its first program in Toronto-Parkdale in September 2011!

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Sistema Toronto is now accepting gifts through Canada Helps. Please click on the link button below or see our "How To Donate" page for more details on how you can directly support the "PLAYING TO POTENTIAL" program.