Ensemble Nabanga, the first youth orchestra in Vanuatu, has been established by Lycée Français JMG Le Clézio in Port Vila, offering a new opportunity for young people to explore the world of music.

President of Ensemble Nabanga, Barbara Idieder, said the project provides a special chance for more than 30 children from different communities to learn and play a variety of musical instruments — all for free.

Barbara said the initiative aims to expose students to something new and different beyond Vanuatu’s borders, while helping them gain confidence through teamwork and creativity. She added that the orchestra was inspired by a major youth program in Venezuela that promotes inclusion and opportunity through music.

In October 2025, 13 young musicians from the group will travel to Brisbane, Australia, for a special performance tour — a milestone that highlights how far the program has come in just a short time.

One of the orchestra’s proudest achievements is seeing a student recently selected to play in a European youth orchestra.

“My hope is that Vanuatu is really proud of these kids,” Barbara said. “Reading music is not easy — it’s a whole different language, but a universal one — and our students work so hard. There’s nothing to stop them from achieving great things.”

Two members of the orchestra, Rachelle Namen and Salasini Kalsakau, said learning to play instruments has been both challenging and inspiring.

“At first, it felt difficult,” Rachelle said, “but as we kept learning, it became easier — and now I just want to continue.”

The orchestra’s main goal is to help students discover new experiences beyond Vanuatu, broadening their horizons through art, discipline, and cultural exchange.