Founded in 1975 by Jose Antonio Abreu, El Sistema is a visionary global movement that transforms the lives of children through music and one of the most exciting initiatives in educational reform today.
El Sistema-inspired programs serve more than 800,000 children in Venezuela and now operate in more than 50 countries around the world. Abreu wanted access to elite classical training for all who wanted, especially those with low socioeconomic status.
El Sistema is a nontraditional music education model that really works! The unique aspect is the program’s focus on the whole individual, not just musical skills. Great musicians, like Gustavo Dudamel, music and artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic have been train through El Sistema. According to Dudamel, "music saved my life and has saved the lives of thousands of at risk children in Venezuela...like food, like health care, like education, music has to be a right for every citizen.
About "El Sistema"
To learn more about "El Sistema" visit:
New York Times: Fighting Poverty, Armed with Violins
TED: Jose Antonio Abreu: The El Sistema Music Revolution
Opera News: Instrument of Change
