Gustavo Dudamel

Publicado originalmente en People’s Weekly Word el 3/4/2009

CHICAGO — The internationally acclaimed Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela is travelling throughout the United States this week performing in Washington, D.C., Chicago and Houston. The first performance will be tonight April 3 at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in downtown Houston. 

Performances in Chicago and Washington have been sold out for months. However, the orchestra members are doing free, public programs throughout Chicago. (See schedule below).

For 35 years, the orchestra has transformed the lives of more than 240,000 Venezuelan children – many from impoverished circumstances — through its free-of-charge training and musical education, opening the doors for the youth of Venezuela to become young musicians and to perform with some of the world’s best-known orchestras. 

The model of education (known as El Sistema) has been so successful that it is now being replicated in other countries, including the United States. El Sistema has grown to be a Venezuelan-wide organization of 102 youth orchestras, 55 children’s orchestras and 270 music centers. 

The orchestra was developed under the leadership of José Antonio Abreu, a retired economist and musician, who had a vision of creating a national system of youth orchestras in Venezuela dedicated to changing young lives through music. 

Director Gustavo Dudamel, a 28-year-old phenom in the music world, is the most famous example put forward of what this system of youth orchestras has accomplished. He is passing on his enthusiasm and musical knowledge here in the United States. Dudamel was recently named Los Angeles Philharmonic music director and is starting a Los Angeles-style program for the youth of LA. 

Praised recently in her congressional testimony to Congress on government funding for the arts, Linda Ronstadt pointed to Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s example of starting the Youth Orchestra LA 

“Access to quality music education should not be only for those who can afford it. The benefits are too great,” the pop singer said. 

“Today, children ages 7-16 in the urban core of Los Angeles receive free instruments, after-school music instruction and orchestra experience. The Los Angeles Philharmonic has already touched the lives of hundreds of children and their families and has plans to reach more. Imagine what can be accomplished if we support the arts, engage ‘at risk’ youth and help them succeed in school and in their lives. For ‘underserved’ families, indeed for all families, participation in music and the arts can help people reclaim and achieve the American Dream.” 

The tour is being sponsored by CITGO Petroleum Corporation, the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. In a company press release it said, “Citgo remains committed to the principles of solidarity under which it gives back to the community and to the most vulnerable in society. 

“The work of the orchestra is a tribute to music as a universal language and what it can accomplish in terms of bringing different peoples and nations together for the common good.” 

Chicago Schedule from April 9-11, 2009: 

OPEN REHEARSAL 
Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra with Gustavo Dudamel 
Thursday, April 9 
3:00-5:00 p.m. 
Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center 
220 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago 

Recommended for ages 10 and up 
FREE, reservations required 

Please note that space is limited and priority for reservations will be given to student groups. To reserve seats, call (312) 294-3044 or e-mail institute@cso.org. 

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ORCHESTRAL SIDE-BY-SIDE WORKSHOP 
Saturday, April 11 
1:00 p.m. 
(This event will last approximately 90 minutes) 
Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center 
220 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago 

FREE, tickets required 

There is a $1 handling fee per ticket. 
Call (312) 294-3000 to reserve tickets (limit of six tickets per 
household, and is recommended for ages 8 and up). 

Bernstein – Candide Overture 
Mahler – Symphony No. 1 in D major “Titan”, Mvt. IV 

A once in a lifetime opportunity to witness members of the Simón 
Bolívar Youth Orchestra and talented young orchestral musicians from 
Chicago working side-by-side under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel. 

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Symposium I – Part I 

Thursday, April 9, 1:00 p.m. 
Grainger Ballroom at Symphony Center 
220 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago 

El Sistema – Venezuela and North America 
Learn all about Venezuela’s national system of music education which 
provides free musical instruction for 250,000 young people annually 
and now extends into other Latin American countries and Europe 

The distinguished panel will discuss the origins of the program, its 
implementation, growth and vision for the future and will also explore 
the international response to the program and current efforts to 
replicate its success in America and other countries. 

Moderator: 
Phil Ponce, Host, Chicago Tonight 

Panelists: 
José Antonio Abreu, Founder, El Sistema 
Eduardo Mendez, Administrative Director, El Sistema 
Mark Churchill, Dean and Artistic Director of Preparatory and 
Continuing Education at New England Conservatory 

FREE, reservations required 
Please call (312) 294-3846 

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Symposium I – Part II 

Thursday, April 9, 2:30 p.m. 
Grainger Ballroom at Symphony Center 
220 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago 

The Technique of El Sistema 
Meet and learn from master teachers of El Sistema about the methods 
employed to teach young players In this hands-on session, Chicago 
youth are taught by master teachers from El Sistema, offering 
educators a rare opportunity to learn about the teaching strategies 
employed in the Venezuelan program. 

FREE, reservations required 
Please call (312) 294-3846 

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Events in the Community 

Trumpet Ensemble, Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra 
Thursday, April 9 
10:30 a.m. 
Salme Harju Steinberg Fine Arts Center 
5500 N. Saint Louis Avenue, Chicago 
(Use campus entrance located at 3701 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue) 
Northeastern Illinois University, host 

FREE 

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Brass Ensemble, Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra 
Thursday, April 9 
7:00pm 
Little Village Lawndale High School 
3120 South Kostner Avenue, Chicago 
The Resurrection Project and Enlace Chicago, hosts 

FREE 

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Chamber Orchestra, Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra 
Thursday, April 9 
7:00 p.m. 
Gottlieb Hall 
38 South Peoria Street, Chicago 
Merit School of Music, host 

FREE 

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Woodwind Quintet, Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra 
Thursday, April 9 
7:00 p.m. 
Recital Hall 
802 W. Belden Avenue, Chicago 
DePaul University Community Music Division, host 

FREE 

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String Quartet, Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra 
Saturday, April 11 
11:30 a.m. 
Sherwood Conservatory of Music 
Columbia College Chicago, host 
1312 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago 

FREE 

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Chamber Orchestra, Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra 
Saturday, April 11 
1:00 p.m. 
Ravinia Festival, Music Institute of Chicago 
Midwest Young Artists, hosts 
Ravinia Park, Highland Park 
Bennett Gordon Hall 

FREE 

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String Quartet, Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra 
Saturday, April 11 
3:00 p.m. 
People’s Music School, host 
931 W. Eastwood Avenue 

FREE