Local El Sistema program expanding thanks to donation
A local after-school program that provides music education to youth who may not otherwise have the opportunity to be involved in the arts, is able to expand after a $7,500 donation from the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.
Terra Karp, who leads the arts portion of the Battlefords Community Youth Strings Program, said it has been a success since it started four years ago.
“The students are thrilled to attend the strings program,” she said. “They’re so excited after school they usually come with a huge smile on their faces and ready to either do art or learn a few notes on their violin. They’re always happy to be here.”
The program is based off El Sistema from Venezuela, which provides free classical music education to young people who wouldn’t otherwise have access to it. The local program divides students’ time between learning violin from instructor Anjuli Dynna and learning about and making art with Karp.