Happy New Year
From your friends at The Big Sound
Happy Holidays
Wishing you a gentle and restful holiday season. May it be filled with music that brings you joy and people that warm your heart.
With glad tidings, from all the folks at The Big Sound
Congratulations to Sistema New Brunswick!
Big news from the maritimes- Sistema New Brunswick has received a boost from the NB government, to the tune of $8.2M!
The Sistema New Brunswick program started with one teacher and 50 children learning to play violin 11 years ago, and now has programs all over the province serving over 1,100 students in their after school music program 5 days a week.
Ken MacLeod, founder of the Sistema New Brunswick program, says he is grateful in the government’s trust in Sistema’s vision, and goes on to say [Music education] “This is not an expense, this is an investment in the lives of our children and in the future of our province.”
An inspiration to all of us here in Grey Bruce!
Youth Open Mic with Paige Warner
We had a great turnout at our December Open Mic night at the Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library on December 1, and thanks to our incredible host/musician extraordinaire Paige Warner @paigewarnermusic, a good time was had by all.
Thanks to our supporters at Long and McQuade, the door prize of a brand new ukulele found a new home with Jacob!
Our Open Mic Nights continue in 2023, with the next one on Thursday January 12, beginning at 5:30pm. Open to all Grey Bruce youth 13-17 years old. Bring your friends, your bravery, and your appetite as there is dinner provided and the stage is YOURS!
For more information please contact hello@thebigsound.org
Moments of musical magic!
A lovely group of musicians from our Music & Movement after school program admirably represented The Big Sound at the Georgian Bay Symphony’s Family Christmas Concert on December 10.
Hearing the thunderous round of applause from the symphony members after the dress rehearsal and the same from the audience during the concert confirmed that there are some very talented young musicians in our community. The high calibre of their performance was further confirmed by the comments we received from retired teachers and individual members of the symphony after the performance. Way to go!
Seeing the students faces when they realized that the orchestra had started playing behind them was nothing short of incredible- it was as if some mysterious magic was boosting and elevating their sound. Which it was! Another highlight was seeing the mesmerized faces upon what was likely their first experience hearing an orchestra. They were in awe!
Under the leadership and guidance of Gael Mulvaney-Courtois, the Music & Movement students shone bright on a cold December afternoon and it was a beautiful sight to be seen!
Here is to a great success and to many yet to come performances for The Big Sound musicians!
Happy Holidays from The Big Sound!
Youth Open Mic Night #1
We had a great turn out for our first open mic night at the Library on Thursday November 10. Folks from the Youth Social Justice Group shared their mission and vision, Josh Ritchie was our gracious MC and resident musician and pizza finally arrived 🙂
Feedback from participants and their adults was overwhelmingly positive, and being in community with others while sharing some fun, friendship, and music made for great evening.
The Big Sound in partnership with the Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library will be hosting more Open Mic Nights through the June 2023 on a monthly basis. Open to youth 13-17, to share their musical interests and talents, and create a space to dig into the incredible social justice and change work happening locally here in Grey Bruce Counties.
There is no cost to participants, and dinner is served. Adults connected to the youth participants are welcome though not required. Join us next month to learn more! We will be hosting Open Mic #2 on Thursday December 1 from 5:30-7:30pm. Registration is not required.
A Big Sound shout-out to Josh Ritchie for hosting this evening’s Open Mic
The Big Sound is Part of Something Even Bigger!
The Big Sound is an El Sistema inspired program that is deeply rooted in the belief that music is a human right. We are connected to so many other programs and people all around the world through our shared foundation of the El Sistema principles of social change through music and music for all, regardless of barriers and backgrounds.
Last week the folks at El Sistema USA, a network organization made up of El Sistema inspired programs all over the United States (and Canada) came together for the Bridge to Harmony Brunch, celebrating the incredible work of all the El Sistema students and learn about all of the fantastic work of young musicians all over North America.
The Big Sound is proud to be part of the El Sistema network- music is a tool for social change here in Grey Bruce, and ALL over the world!