Sistema Kingston

• Social Change - social transformation through the pursuit of musical excellence. One happens through the other and neither is prioritized at the expense of the other.
• Ensembles - The focus is on the group experience (orchestral/choral) and working toward a common goal. Peer mentoring is integral to the experience.
• Frequency - El Sistema ensembles meet multiple times every week for multiple hours at a time over extended periods.
• Accessibility - El Sistema programs are free and inclusive to all.
• Connectivity - El Sistema programs foster connectivity between students, teachers and families to build stronger communities. El Sistema programs are linked at the community, regional and national levels, forming a cohesive network of services, resource sharing collaborative opportunities and advocacy in support of each other.

Through Sistema Kingston, our Bachelor of Education students, who have a background in music and an interest in working with underserved children, have an opportunity to help with the program. Our graduate students have opportunities to engage with Sistema Kingston through teaching internships and research.

Sistema Kingston is committed to anti-racism, equity, inclusion, and the celebration of diversity in all our activities. Recognizing that systemic racism creates deep divides, we acknowledge there is work to do to confront biases and create spaces that are free from racism. We understand that this is a process and we are committed to ongoing work, including respectful dialog and critical self-reflection.

Sistema Kingston has a zero tolerance policy for overt and covert acts of violence against marginalized groups. We value an environment that welcomes all students, families, volunteers, employees and teaching artists, honouring their abilities, lived experiences, and individual identities. We are committed to creating a community that fosters respect and a sense of belonging.

As we explore, study and create with students, mentors, artists and one another through inquiry-based learning, we will reflect upon and deepen our understanding of our music and art in the context of their histories. We are committed to selecting and creating works that give voice to diversity, and that respect and honour our local, national, and global communities.

We live, work and play as uninvited guests upon the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Anishinabek Nation, and we are grateful to share these lands. Sistema Kingston welcomes people from racialized/visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with a disability/exceptionality, persons who identify in the LGBTQ+ community and others who reflect the diversity of Canadian society.