OrKidstra

10/10/2026

What an incredible night for OrKidstra! 💜🎶

We’re thrilled to share that OrKidstra has won the Community Impact Award, presented by Godzspeed, at the 2026 Capital Music Awards!

We are so honoured! This recognition celebrates the power of music to bring people together, create belonging, and open doors of possibility for young people in our community. Thank you to our students, Teaching Artists, families, supporters, and everyone who makes this work possible.

We’re also still celebrating an incredible performance alongside Orchidae! We are bursting with pride for our students and OldKidstra members who took to the stage so bravely tonight and played so beautifully. You shone tonight, and we couldn’t be prouder! 💜

Congratulations to all the nominees and honourees celebrating Ottawa’s vibrant music community tonight, including the Bronson Centre on winning Live Music Venue of the Year! As home to our Centre Hub, we’re especially happy to celebrate this recognition of a space that means so much to our OrKidstra community.

A special thank you to the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC) and the National Arts Centre for bringing us together for this memorable evening. What a night to celebrate the power of music! 🎶

OMIC/CIMO National Arts Centre

10/08/2026

🎉 Happy Birthday to our wonderful Ambassador, Alexander Shelley! 🎶

Thank you for sharing your passion for music and inspiring the next generation of musicians. We hope your special day is filled with joy and beautiful music! 💜🎂

10/07/2026

OrKidstra is headed to the Capital Music Awards this Friday! 🎶✨

On October 9, OrKidstra will take to the stage at Southam Hall alongside Orchidae as part of the 2026 Capital Music Awards, celebrating the incredible music community here in Ottawa. We are thrilled to collaborate and perform with Orchidae — the musical project of our very own talented Teaching Artist, Ms. Yolande! Orchidae is nominated for Single of the Year - presented by Mix 98.5FM, for the beautiful single "Sun and the Stars".

And there is even more to celebrate! 💜

🏆OrKidstra is in the running for the Community Impact Award, presented by Godzspeed — with the recipient to be announced at the awards. Stay tuned!

🎤 Our wonderful OrKidstra Ambassador Dr. Kellylee Evans is co-hosting the evening. Break a leg, Ms. Kellylee!

🎶OrKidstra Board Member Antoine L Collins is nominated for Best Production and Arrangements, presented by St. Brigid’s Centre for the Arts, for “It’s Complicated (feat. Kellylee Evans).” Our fingers are crossed!

Thank you to the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC) and the National Arts Centre for bringing Ottawa’s music community together for this special evening. We’re honoured to be part of it!

Want to join us? Tickets are available now! 🎟️
https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/41535?utm_source=chatgpt.com

🗓️ Friday, October 9, 2026
📍 Southam Hall, National Arts Centre

Ottawa Music Industry Coalition
National Arts Centre / Centre national des Arts

Celebrate the artists, creators and industry leaders shaping Ottawa’s music scene at the 2026 Capital Music Awards, live from the National Arts Centre. The Capital Music Awards are a marquee event of Capital Music Week, presented by the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC). Running October 2–1...

10/05/2026

🎶 Happy World Teachers’ Day! 💜

Today, we’re celebrating the incredible Teaching Artists who make OrKidstra such a special place to learn, grow and belong.

Our Teaching Artists do so much more than teach music. They inspire confidence, encourage curiosity, celebrate every student’s progress and create spaces where young people feel seen, supported and empowered to find their voice.

From the first note to the concert stage and beyond, they are there to guide, challenge, encourage and cheer our students on. Their passion, patience, dedication, and commitment to excellence help our young musicians discover what they’re capable of — both as musicians and as people.

To all of our Teaching Artists: thank you for sharing your talent, your time, and your love of music with our students. We’re so grateful for everything you bring to the OrKidstra family. 💜

10/05/2026

On October 1, OrKidstra was honoured to perform at the Caldwell Family Centre’s 14th Annual Harvest of Hope Gala & Charity Auction.

For decades, Caldwell Family Centre has been working alongside Ottawa residents to reduce the impact of poverty — providing nutritious meals and food hampers, clothing and household support, employment readiness programs, community programming, and so much more.

We’re so grateful to have been part of this special annual fundraiser and to help celebrate the people, organizations and supporters who come together to strengthen our community.

Thank you to the Caldwell Family Centre for inviting our young musicians to share their music! We’re proud to play our part in an evening dedicated to hope, connection and community. 🎶💜

10/01/2026

🎶 We are in need of some instrument donations!

OrKidstra is currently looking for B♭ Tubas (B Flat Tubas) and fractional-sized cellos to help keep our young musicians playing this season.

🎺 Have a B♭ tuba to donate?
🎻 Have a fractional-sized cello your family has outgrown?

Please consider donating it to OrKidstra! Your instrument could become a young musician’s voice — and a part of their OrKidstra journey. 💜

👉 Donate an instrument by filling out our form: https://orkidstra.ca/support/donation-options/ -instruments

09/30/2026

Today, September 30, OrKidstra’s office is closed in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, giving our team time to learn, reflect and honour this important day.

At OrKidstra, we believe it’s important to make space for learning and reflection, both as individuals and as a community. To support our students in understanding the significance of this day, Indigenous histories and present-day realities, we created interactive learning activities to explore during programming. Students had the opportunity to learn, test their knowledge, ask questions and share their own thoughts and reflections.

Reconciliation is an ongoing journey that calls for continued learning, listening and action. We encourage our community to take time today to reflect, deepen their understanding and consider the role we each play in building a future rooted in respect, understanding and belonging. 🧡

09/29/2026

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a time to honour survivors of residential schools, their families and communities, and to reflect on the ongoing impacts of these institutions.

As an organization that values belonging and community, we believe learning is an important part of reconciliation. This week, we're encouraging our community to take some time to learn, reflect and consider how we can each contribute to a more inclusive future.

💜 Start your learning journey with Spirit Bear's Guide to the TRC Calls to Action, a youth-friendly resource from the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society that helps young people understand the history of residential schools and the 94 Calls to Action.

📖 Explore the guide:
https://fncaringsociety.com/sites/default/files/2023-05/Spirit%20Bear%20TRC%20Guide_2023_EN.pdf

Additional learning resources can be found in the comments.

Reconciliation is an ongoing journey, and every step towards understanding matters.

09/28/2026

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a time to honour survivors of residential schools, their families and communities, and to reflect on the ongoing impacts of these institutions.

As an organization that values belonging and community, we believe learning is an important part of reconciliation. This week, we're encouraging our community to take some time to learn, reflect and consider how we can each contribute to a more inclusive future.

💜 Start with Spirit Bear's Guide to the TRC Calls to Action (https://fncaringsociety.com/sites/default/files/2023-05/Spirit%20Bear%20TRC%20Guide_2023_EN.pdf) , a youth-friendly resource from the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society that helps young people understand the history of residential schools and the 94 Calls to Action.

📖 Additional learning resources:

Ottawa Public Library: Reading and Learning Resources - https://bit.ly/3VVA5z1
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation: Learning Resources and Survivor Testimonies - https://nctr.ca/
CBC Beyond 94: Explore the Calls to Action - https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/beyond-94
Watch a Documentary on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0mw9V02h2M

Reconciliation is an ongoing journey, and every step towards understanding matters.

See less

09/28/2026

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a time to honour survivors of residential schools, their families and communities, and to reflect on the ongoing impacts of these institutions.

As an organization that values belonging and community, we believe learning is an important part of reconciliation. This week, we're encouraging our community to take some time to learn, reflect and consider how we can each contribute to a more inclusive future.

💜 Start with Spirit Bear's Guide to the TRC Calls to Action (https://fncaringsociety.com/sites/default/files/2023-05/Spirit%20Bear%20TRC%20Guide_2023_EN.pdf) , a youth-friendly resource from the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society that helps young people understand the history of residential schools and the 94 Calls to Action.

📖 Additional learning resources:

Ottawa Public Library: Reading and Learning Resources - https://bit.ly/3VVA5z1
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation: Learning Resources and Survivor Testimonies - https://nctr.ca/
CBC Beyond 94: Explore the Calls to Action - https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/beyond-94
Watch a Documentary on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0mw9V02h2M

Reconciliation is an ongoing journey, and every step towards understanding matters.