Cellist Emmanuel Ortega
Music in the River Valley!
Stephanie Kelley
This is the fourth community in New Brunswick to begin this wonderful program to bring music and culture into the lives of children.
Emmanuel is originally from Mexico City, and gained his love of music early in life from his father, who was a professional musician who was both a singer and played the oboe, bass and piano.
His first professional teachers were Russians. I was fascinated to learn that there is a very large Russian community in Mexico City, and Emmanuel further commented that music is very big in Mexico City, offering many employment opportunities for freelance musicians in television, at wedding and for any and all special events.
Emmanuel left Mexico in 2009 when he was accepted into the Master’s Program in cello in Victoria, BC. There, his music tutors were the artists in residence and members of the Lafayette String Quartet. The violinist and strings teacher of this group is New Brunswick native Ann Elliot-Goldschmid.
He was delighted to get a job as a music teacher through Sistema New Brunswick, which is now in its 5th year in the province enriching the lives of the children enrolled in the program. He left BC and headed across the country to settle for a while in the St John River Valley.
El Sistema, literally, The System, is both a social engagement program as well as a music program, with a focus on social connection for the participants.
Emmanuel commented that it is a miracle that he is working in orchestra at all, as this type of music is dying out around the world.
He loves the program, and is amazed at the enthusiastic participation of all the kids involved. He teaches music theory, reading, singing and hands on experience with real instruments….it is a total exposure to music for the children.
Playing music helps kids open up to their own creative spirits…Emmanuel has discovered that kids prefer to be guided than to think on their own when they begin the program. Public schools teach by rote and memorization, and don’t offer students the opportunity to flex their imagination and think outside the box the way that playing music does.
The program is totally free, and is open to all children in grade K-5. There are a number of students from Andover also participating in the program, who are bussed to Mah Sos for the classes.
Emmanuel teaches music in the mornings to 75 or 80 children, then the afternoons are devoted to teaching orchestra to 36 children.
Right now, Emmanuel is focussed on learning and practicing Christmas Carols with his students.
There are some wonderful concerts coming up over the holiday season:
On November 21st enjoy the annual Sounds & Tastes of Christmas Concert at the Wesleyan Church in Andover. This begins at 7 pm and the cost is $10 to attend. This will be a total musical extravaganza with all kinds of musicians playing, not to mention the fabulous dessert buffet that is laid out! Emmanuel will play with the Perth-Andover Community Choir, and will play a cello solo. Also playing during the event are Bronwyn Dickson, Sandi Tattersall, The Wednesday Evening Fiddlers, Friends and Family from Scotch Colony, Chantal Moulton, Bob Curran, Perry Swazey, Barb Rideout and more! This concert is a fundraiser organized by the Hotel Dieu Hospital Auxiliary, and all money collected will stay within the community.
On December 12th there will be a free Sistema Concert put on at Mah Sos School at 5 pm
On December 15th the Wesleyan Church will host another concert at 6 pm featuring Emmanuel, a pianist and a variety of guest musicians. Admission is by donation for this concert.
Mark your calendars now and make sure to meet Emmanuel and attend these fabulous local musical events and celebrate community and Christmas!
