The Marchand Youth Orchestra

The Marchand Youth Orchestra - Music has changed the lives of the children in the Marchand Youth Orchestra. Music has the power to empower and transform. This is the rationale behind the Marchand Youth Orchestra initiative, the result of a partnership between the St Lucia Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Social Transformation and the St Lucia School of  Music.

The programme, managed by the St Lucia School of Music was launched in 2009 with the support of The Saint Lucia Electricity Services Ltd. The objective of the programme is to enlist young people who are at risk for delinquency and to channel their energies into the study and performance of music. The Youth Orchestra Project has been met with acclaim in St Lucia.

Music education is a proven tool in countering youth violence and in reducing school drop-out rates but what is even more rewarding is the programme's role in drawing out latent talents, and generating a sense of pride and ownership in its participants with positive ripple effects throughout the community.

The mission of the Marchand Youth Orchestra is to enable children in the community to develop a life time skill, engendering community spirit and to help the children in the community abstain from violence and to distract them from the bad influences within the community.

The Marchand Youth Orchestra has had a great impact on the children in Saint Lucia, it has given them a love for the instrument and an appreciation for the music. Their behaviour has improved immensely and through consistent practice they are becoming a lot more disciplined. The focus given by the children towards the program, has contributed towards their academic studies and growth.