From April 16 to 22 the Simón Bolívar Music Foundation, governing body of the System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela, is presenting a festival celebrating the work of the renowned French trumpeter Maurice André. More than 20 trumpet players from the El Sistema’s top orchestras are participating in this trumpet festival entitled ¡Grande Maurice!, which is being held in Caracas at the Center for Social Action Through Music.

All the concerts, recitals, masters classes and lectures that make up the programme of the festival are free and open to the public.

Maurice André: a role model

Undoubtedly, no other classical trumpeter has shined brighter than Maurice André. He gave the trumpet a sonority, relevance and versatility that made of him an innovator. His over 300 recordings, innumerable solo performances with the world’s leading orchestras and many international awards makes him a role model for every trumpeter who dreams about becoming a virtuoso. And that is what the young trumpeters from El Sistema, who pay tribute to maestro André, dream of.

Maurice André in Venezuela

Maurice André performed as soloist with the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela in the late 1980s under the baton of maestro José Antonio Abreu, who had this to say about the festival: “We are proud of these young and talented Venezuelan trumpeters for their endeavours to make this Maurice André Tribute Festival possible. (...) I had the honour of conducting André when he came to Venezuela to perform with our orchestra. He was a man with human and spiritual values, who showed great generosity and loved Venezuela and our orchestra deeply.”

24 Venezuelan trumpeters

The Maurice André Trumpet Festival has been organized by 24 trumpeters from the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela and the Venezuelan Brass Ensamble, who are also participating as instructors, lecturers, and performers. Skilled instrumentalists from the Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra of Venezuela and the Caracas Youth Symphony Orchestra are also taking part in this event. The festival, a joint effort of the Latin American Trumpet Academy and the Simón Bolívar Conservatory of Music, is part of the 2012 El Sistema for the Peace Program.

Gaudy Sánchez, first trumpet of the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela and producer of the festival, explained that "...besides paying tribute to Maurice André, who is a major influence for us all, this festival is a great opportunity to share knowledge, learn, listen to the new talents and provide the public with high quality concerts."

Winner of the Maurice André Trumpet Competition

Among the participants of the festival is Francisco “Pacho” Flores, the internationally renowned Venezuelan trumpeter who won the 2006 Maurice André Trumpet Competition. “I have exciting memories of that competition because it has been one of the toughest challenges in my career (...) I remember when Maurice André gave me the prize: he was crying, and I asked him why he was crying. He said he knew that it was the last prize he would give... and he was right,” explained Flores, who has developed a very successful international career. After winning this competition, he has become one of the most sought after trumpet players in the world.

A fanfare for Maurice André

On April 22, the closing concert of the festival will feature the world premiere of a fanfare dedicated to Maurice André and the 24 trumpeters who organized the festival. The work entitled ¡Grande Maurice! was composed by the Venezuelan musician Giancarlo Castro.