The New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, Inc. (NBYO) is a leading Canadian orchestral music education program for children and youth. At the heart of NBYO’s community outreach is Sistema NB, a transformative after-school program providing free musical education to children across New Brunswick, particularly those without access to such opportunities.
Founded in 1965, NBYO is a not-for-profit corporation and registered charity. It is the largest employer of professional musicians in Atlantic Canada and serves over 1,000 children and youth each year. Their mission is to inspire children and youth to achieve their full potential through learning and performing orchestral music.

NBYO’s extensive network includes:
• Local children’s orchestras through Sistema NB, Canada’s largest El Sistema-inspired program, offered free daily across 9 centers in the province.
• Three regional youth orchestras in Moncton, Saint John, and Miramichi.
• The internationally acclaimed New Brunswick Youth Orchestra.
• Tutta Musica Orchestra, comprised of our professional teaching artists.

Since its establishment in 2009, Sistema NB has grown to serve over 1,200 children daily across nine centres. Each child participates for three hours a day, five days a week, learning to play instruments and perform together, fostering inclusion and encouraging significant personal growth. This powerful engagement has not only improved grades but also reduced behavioural issues, paving the way for brighter futures. Many alumni of Sistema NB have gone on to university and successful careers.
Our vision extends beyond immediate educational outcomes. Sistema NB aims to double in size over the next 15 years, aspiring to serve over 2,000 children annually and to help bring about generational change in child poverty levels in NewBrunswick. Music and the orchestra serve as powerful tools for positive social development, driving our campaign for a brighter future.

Photo credit: Lydia Mainville