Sistema Toronto extends a helping hand to their musical colleagues in the Philippines

Sistema Toronto has announced that it has made a donation of $730 to Sistemang Pilipino, a Sistema-inspired program in the Philippines, to aid in efforts to recover from Typhoon Haiyan. The funds were raised by children in Sistema Toronto’s Playing to Potential programs at their Holiday Concerts, held on December 9 at Yorkwoods Public School and December 12 at Parkdale Junior and Senior Public School.

“Our organization has been the recipient of so much generosity from its friends and supporters, so it’s wonderful to be able to support a sister program in need”, said David Visentin, Sistema Toronto’s Executive and Artistic director. “This donation is especially important, as it truly symbolizes Sistema’s mission to build and strengthen community”. Visentin added that the idea of community, which is one of the global Sistema movement’s fundamental principles, has been redefined and broadened: “We are linked to Sistemang Pilipino by our common goals and values, and we felt compelled to reach out to them, like family”.

Lianne Sala, President and CEO of Sistemang Pilipino, noted how gratified her organization was to receive this donation: “We are deeply grateful for this quiet, unexpected gesture of support from our newfound family at Sistema Toronto. These are very trying times for our program, and we are greatly encouraged by this donation”. Sala noted that the typhoon came hard on the heels of October’s magnitude-7.2 earthquake. They had only begun operations last January, and the damage caused by the two natural disasters “meant weeks without classes or musical training”.

Sistema Toronto joined numerous other organizations around the world in providing support to the Philippines, including other North American Sistema programs. Sala added that Sistemang Pilipino will allocate a portion of the funds donated directly to their program to local partners who are directing relief and recovery efforts in the stricken country. Many of Sistemang Pilipino’s staff and instructors are themselves involved in efforts to aid evacuees and rebuild communities.

Sistemang Pilipino is dedicated to providing world-class music education and performance opportunities for Filipino children and youth, with a focus on those from under-served communities. Founded in 2012 by violinist and social advocate Lianne Sala, Sistemang Pilipino is enabling young Filipinos to reach their full potential through the joy of creating music and by celebrating family, community, and country. Visit their website at www.sistemangpilipino.org.

Playing To Potential is a collaboration between Sistema Toronto and the Toronto District School Board offered at no charge in Toronto’s Parkdale and Jane/Finch communities. It is an innovative social development program that realizes its vision, mission, and goals through the pursuit of musical excellence. Playing To Potential’s intensive after-school instruction teaches children to work toward a common goal in a non-competitive environment that fosters co-operation, best efforts, and mutual respect.

Working to sustain its program for the children it serves, Sistema Toronto relies in part for its funding through the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Government of Ontario; as well as private, corporate, and foundational sponsorship.

Sistema Toronto’s Playing To Potential programs and Sistemang Pilipino are part of the rapidly growing El Sistema global movement, established by Dr. José Antonio Abreu in Venezuela over 35 years ago. Playing To Potential is one of hundreds of Sistema-inspired social programs active in Canada and more than 30 other countries that have taught music to over a million youth around the world. For more information on Sistema Toronto and Playing To Potential, visit www.sistema-toronto.ca.

Proceeds from December’s Holiday Concerts donated directly to Sistemang Pilipino.

Article courtesy of Sistema Toronto press release, 08 January 2014.