Background

The vision for the music association evolved from the music club started by educator Julie Lohnes in 2004 in the remote northern community of Pond Inlet, Nunavut. 

Teaching in a high school without a music class, and listening to her students talk about music and learning to play guitar, Ms. Lohnes decided to start the Nasivvik Music Club.  The desire that youth have to learn to play instruments and the lack of structured after-school activities for youth were the driving forces behind starting the club, which continues today. The purpose of the music club was, and still is, to provide a safe environment in which students can learn to read and play both traditional Inuit and popular music, fostering their individuality and musical growth.

The program’s popularity increased, and in 2007, with extensive fundraising, the first-ever fiddle workshop was held. Since then, master fiddler Gordon Stobbe and guitarist Greg Simm, both Nova Scotians, have travelled annually to Pond Inlet to conduct fiddle workshops. In 2009, these workshops were expanded to include Iqaluit and Pangnirtung.  The interest from other communities to hold music workshops for youth is continuing to grow and has added to the inspiration to ensure this program grows and prospers.

For the last three years, Inuit youth have benefited from the fiddle workshops, both during the workshops and throughout the year as many of them continue to play.  The workshops have shown them that hard work and dedication can pay off, and the experience has increased self-confidence for many.  This sense of pride and accomplishment has the potential to filter into all aspects of their lives - school, sports, family and music.