Music and the Mind: A Smart Start to Early Childhood Education
Smart Start Symposium 2025
Friday, October 31, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Koerner Hall, Toronto
Join us for a groundbreaking day of discovery, inspiration, and connection at the Smart Start Symposium 2025, a global event exploring how music can shape the developing mind.
This year’s theme, “Music and the Mind: A Smart Start to Early Childhood Education,” brings together world-renowned voices in neuroscience, early learning, and music to highlight the transformative power of music in the earliest years of life.
Whether you're an educator, policymaker, researcher, or passionate advocate for music education, this symposium will deepen your understanding of how music enriches brain development and how Smart Start is shaping the future of early childhood education.
Event Highlights
Two Inspiring Panels at Koerner Hall
The two panels will feature trailblazing leaders in arts, education and policy such as:
· Renee Fleming, world-renowned soprano, arts advocate, and four-time Grammy Award winner, will moderate one of our panels, bringing her unique perspective on the intersection of music, culture, and education.
· Raffi, beloved children’s entertainer and children’s advocate
· Dr. Indre Viskontas, neuroscientist and operatic soprano, exploring the science of music and the brain
· Kevin Chan, Global Policy Campaign Strategies Director at Meta, focusing on the future of the internet including artificial intelligence, the metaverse and the creator economy. Kevin has his ARCT (piano) and his children are enrolled in The Royal Conservatory of Music exams.
· Eric Radford, two-time Olympic medalist and two-time world champion in pairs figure skating. He is also a musician, composer, and was named an honorary fellow of the RCM in 2019.
Two Live Podcast Recordings
Join an exclusive in-person taping of Sing for Science, hosted by Matt Whyte, as leading experts explore the powerful connection between music, neuroscience, and early learning.
Immersive Smart Start Classroom Experience
Step into a fully recreated Smart Start classroom featuring live demonstrations and interactive stations that bring the curriculum to life.
Cocktail Reception
An evening gathering to celebrate the global launch of Smart Start, with keynote guests, speakers, and industry partners in attendance.
Why Attend?
· Gain exclusive insights from leading neuroscientists, educators, and policy experts
· Explore how music shapes cognitive, social, and emotional development in early childhood
· Be among the first to experience the Smart Start approach in action
· Network with global leaders shaping the future of education and the arts
Tickets go on sale August 20, 2025
Spots are limited - don't miss this unforgettable event at the intersection of music, science, and early learning.
With Gratitude
This symposium and the ongoing Smart Start research wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our champions. Special thanks to:
Heather Edwards, Jim Temerty, The Thomsons and Telus.
Your vision and commitment help bring Smart Start to life and empower the next generation of learners through music.