Sistema Toronto’s  music education  program has a superstar  Canadian  violinist  as it’s honourary  music  ambassador.

He’s James Ehnes.

The renowned violinist  says he hopes to inspire children in Toronto and across Canada to seek the highest levels of challenge and achievement within themselves.

The new Toronto Sistema “Playing To Potential” program’s first centre operates in the culturally – diverse  Parkdale Jr. and Sr. Public Schools at no charge to  students.

They work with professional artists and teachers for two hours at the end of every school day. After three years each child will have received the equivalent of over ten years’ musical experience.

The program  is based on the internationally acclaimed model known as “El Sistema,” which has been teaching music for more than 38 years to over a million youth in Venezuela and has since spread to more than 30 countries.