El Sistema: At a Glance

An attempt to profile the main facts about the program.

  • Founder: Dr. Jose Antonio Abreu
  • Founded: 1975 in Caracas, Venezuela
  • Official program name: Fundamusical Simon Bolivar
  • Mission: capacitar, prevenir y recuperar a los grupos más vulnerables del país a través de la práctica colectiva de la música (To train, protect and empower the most underprivileged in the country through the collective practice of playing music)
  • Budget: $91 million
  • Funded by: 80% government, 20% private 
  • Number of children served currently: around 468,000
  • Number of children served in program's history: over a million
  • Number of nucleos (music centres): around 300
  • Activities: Children's and youth musical ensembles (mostly orchestras and choirs)

Achievements:

  • Countless students receiving a free music education and communities served with free cultural events
  • Many international awards and recognition for founder Dr. Abreu including the TEDPrize which started the Fellowship
  • Alumni Gustavo Dudamel is Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
  • Alumni Edicson Ruiz became the youngest ever player in the Berlin Philharmonic at 17
  • The National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela (Simon Bolivar Orchestra)
    • International tours to high acclaim including the famous 2007 Proms performance
    • International recordings on Deutsche Grammophon and others
  • Residency at the 2013 Salzburg Festival
  • Inspiration for a fast growing movement of around 200 social action through music programs in 60 countries









 

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