El Sistema Around the World
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EL SISTEMA AROUND THE WORLD Programs inspired on the National Network of Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela A MODEL OF PEACE AND PROGRESS FOR THE WORLD The National Network of Youth and choirs are social and personal life Children’s Orchestras and Choirs of schools, where children can culti- Venezuela, commonly known as El vate positive abilities and attitudes, Sistema, is a state-funded social and and ethic, aesthetic and spiritual cultural program created in 1975 values. All members acquire qual- by the Venezuelan maestro José ities like self-concept, self-esteem, Antonio Abreu. The Simon Bolivar self-confidence, discipline, patience, Music Foundation is the governing and commitment. They learn to be body of El Sistema and is attached to perseverant and to perform a healthy the Ministry of People’s Power for the professional competition, and lead- President’s Office and Government ership; working constantly to achieve Management Follow-Up of the their goals and excellence, while Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, coexisting in a tolerant and friendly aimed at teaching children from environment, which stimulates them an early age to become upright towards a peace culture. members of the society. The international reputation of El Through individual and collective Sistema’s ensembles and musicians music practice, el Sistema has taken them to appear at the most incorporates children from all levels prestigious venues in the world, as of social stratification: 66% come from peace ambassadors, and has earned low income homes or live in adverse them many awards such as the 2008 conditions and vulnerable areas, while Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts the remaining 34% come from urban and the UNESCO International Music areas with better access possibilities, Award. El Sistema has inspired over achieving an inclusion example for all 40 countries worldwide to establish levels of the Venezuelan population, similar initiatives, providing thus a real without distinctions. and sustainable education alternative Youth and children’s orchestras and of achieving progress and peace. America ARGENTINA CHILE Fundación Orquesta Juvenil Fundación Soijar is Argentina’s Network e Infantil de Chile (FOJI) of Youth and Children’s Orchestras. It is a non-profitable organization promoting This non-profit organization members of orchestras and who the development of youth and children’s supported by the Chilean state will become high level musicians. orchestras, whose programs are aimed to was created in 2001. Every This scholarships are given each providing opportunities of social inclusion and integration year, 12,000 children year through a competition to over 6,000 deprived children throughout the country. participate in the program held in the country. Soijar also benefits 20,000 people through counseling orchestral program The impact of FOJI’s work is and training, and supports 300 teachers and instrument and a million people present in its numbers: in players. Another initiative in this country is the one lead by attend the 3,000 2001 there were 72 youth Conductor Mario Benzecry, who has started a new stage concerts presented and children’s orchestras regional orchestras with the Jose de San Martin National Youth Symphonic, by the youth and in Chile, however, in 2010 make up Chile’s Network which has a social inclusion premise. This has the support children’s orchestras this number raised to 385, and of Youth and Children’s of the Presidency Secretary of Culture of the state, in 190 municipalities of the nowadays there 450, distributed 17 Orchestras included in their Cultural Equality Plan. country. Its scholarship program throughout the country, from Arica are Foundation Youth Orchestra from Argentina benefits 1,500 children from to Punta Arenas. Soijar’s top and Children and Youth low income families to become 2 orchestras: Mediterranean Orchestra BRAZIL Created in 2007 by Ricardo Castro, Neojiba is a program supported by Bahia’s government, and the Castro Alves Theater, managed by the Instituto Ação social PERU Pela Música. It has a Professional training and management branch where the Sinfonía por el Perú 2 de Julho Youth Symphonic Orchestra, with 90 members, and the Castro Alves Orchestra, with 80, attend daily rehearsals. To cater for the high demand, they Created in 2011, Peru’s Youth and Children’s Orchestras have the Experimental Teaching Orchestra, formed by musicians between 7 is an inclusive social network aiming to educate and 15 years of age, and a choir. Neojiba has three branches in Salvador, the and rehabilitate children, especially those from low metropolitan region of Trancoso, and south of Bahia. income families. Its mission is to change the lives of One of the musical education centers of the NGO Ação Social Pela Música hundreds of thousands of children by promoting their and Orquestrando a Vida is located on the top of Dona Marta slum in Rio de personal, intellectual, spiritual, social, and professional Janeiro, with the objective to pacify the area. After almost 17 years of work in the development. This network of orchestras and choirs previous Brazilian capital and its surroundings, there are approximately 1,000 160 is made up of 13 schools of music, a lutherie center, a children in the program. children are part The experiences have echoed in Paulínia where the Projecto Cidadão Musical is of the Children’s children’s orchestra and a youth orchestra. located, and in the Instituto Bacarelli that operates in Heliópolis, in the south of Orchestra of Peru São Paulo. URUGUAY children are benefited by EE.UU. Fundación Sistema de Orquestas El Sistema Uruguay LA PHIL – YOLA Juveniles e Infantiles del Uruguay 900 YOLA, the Youth Orchestra of Los aims to build healthy communities Angeles, is inspired by El Sistema. through universal access to music, Created in 1996, Uruguay’s Children and Youth Members are from 6 to 18 The program was created by Los this experience, along with the LA Phil Orchestras Network Foundation is a non-profit years old, more than 5,000 Angeles Philharmonic in 2007. The linked to El Sistema, has allowed the organization that promotes the study of music in children students, and they participate YOLA program at EXPO Center has offering of concerts with the world’s as a tool for human development, working on low in programs such as YOLA-EX- grown to include three orchestras, most important orchestras, and the income neighborhoods as a priority, in which more than PO, YOLA-HOLA, YOLA-LACHSA, a preschool program, mentorship, joining performance of over 1,000 900 children are able to learn music by becoming part YOLA Neighborhood Project, group lessons, chamber music children from YOLA and the schools. of an orchestra. This foundation operates 9 branches and the annual symposium and parent ensembles. The YOLA Take-a-Stand is an annual symposium strategically located in low income areas of Montevideo, Take-a-Stand, which in its last program at HOLA (Heart of Los of musicians who defend the Minas (Lavalleja) and Florida. Each branch offers children, edition gathered 400 musicians Angeles), located in the rampart transforming power of music, coming between 7 and 15 years old, the possibility to learn an from 28 American states, and district, serves hundreds of students from 28 states and 13 countries, instrument through an intensive orchestra practice. 13 countries with intensive after-school orchestral inspired by El Sistema. They gather Sodre’s Youth Orchestra José Artigas is the signature instruction five days a week. YOLA at in Los Angeles to discuss about group of El Sistema Uruguay. However, the project has LACHSA is the third site of the YOLA music learning and teaching with developed 8 orchestras and one choir. initiative. Nestled on the campus Venezuela’s Simon Bolivar Symphonic of Cal State LA, the Los Angeles Orchestra as participant. County high school for the Arts COLOMBIA (LACHSA) has provided powerful Since 1991, the Batuta Foundation has worked for the sake of early music learning experiences for high school education and orchestra practice in Colombia. Almost 40,000 children are students within LA County. Each currently part of this program that operates in 95 municipalities and cities, child has the opportunity to thrive half of them living in armed conflict areas. This foundation is also creating in an intensive, nurturing musical Border Teaching Centers between Colombia and Venezuela. environment, receiving a total of 15 On the other hand, the Tocar y Luchar Orchestra, created under the hours of musical instruction and sponsorship of Caja de Compensación Familia in Colombia, including more academic tutoring per week. The than 600 children from towns like Bosa, Patio Bonito, and Ciudad Bolívar, YOLA Neighborhood Project (YNP) which have access to free music education. Meanwhile, the Bogota’s Philharmonic Orchestra social-artistic program is currently assisting 8,000 children. Recently, a cooperation agreement was signed between this organization and the Simon Bolivar Music Foundation, so the Venezuelan institution could bring teaching support to Colombian professors. NEC New England Conservatory NEC serves KidzNotes The idea of bringing El Sistema to North Carolina was 750 inspired by the program created by Abreu in Venezuela students in 1975. It started in 2010 when Kidznotes began its The New England Conservatory first orchestra in September with 60 students. Now signed the first Friendship Agreement in its fourth year, the program goes further with its to share ideals with El Sistema organizational growth by serving over 200 students in 2005, with talented musicians in 5 Durham elementary schools. Looking towards participating through the Fellows the future, by 2020, Kidznotes hopes to have a big System Program. In October 2013, orchestra with 100 musicians, and 500 student a third renewal of that agreement enrolled in each branch, both in Raleigh and Durham. was signed to continue with this permanent cooperation of educational programs focused on social life an art.