“ We have no words to express our gratitude for dreaming and keep on dreaming...”, Gustavo Dudamel said to maestro Abreu during the concert held on February 12 to celebrate El Sistema’s 35^th anniversary.

In 1975, the doors to a massive music education in Venezuela were open. Three decades later, the social project conceived by José Antonio Abreu, worldwide known as El Sistema, have benefited 300,000 children and young people. Since February 10, music has taken over the Center for Social Action through Music to celebrate El Sistema's Anniversary, and pay tribute to its founder and all those who have helped him to make his dream possible.

The SBYOV and the Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra have performed under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel and Claudio Abbado to pay homage to those who have made of music a means of social transformation.

The first concert, held on February 10, featured maestro Claudio Abbado and the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra. A soft, deep and elegant program, that reflected the importance of the event, allowed the Italian maestro to display his great artistry and the Venezuelan orchestra to grow in stature.

The concert opened with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which created a nostalgic, lively and hopeful atmosphere from the overture to the wedding march. Then, soloist Angélica Olivo performed Mendelssohn’s Violin concerto N° 2 in E minor, which reminded us the importance of recognizing the work carried out by El Sistema. The concert closed with the Adagio of Mahler’s Symphony n° 10, which won maestro Abbado a huge ovation.

On February 12, El Sistema’s anniversary day, Gustavo Dudamel led the Teresa Carreño Orchestra in the performance of Camille Saint- Saëns’ Danse Macabre and Celllo Concerto N° 1, with Daniel Arias as soloist, a Venezuelan cellist considered as a bright young hope for his talent and dedication.

During the intermezzo, a special atmosphere surrounded the Simón Bolívar Hall: some of the SBYOV’s founders, namely Frank Di Polo, Ulyses, David Ascanio, Florentino Mendoza, Lope Valles, Antonio Mayorca and Antonio Manzano, wearing their tricolor insignia, went on stage and joined, in a fraternal embrace, over three decades of talent, effort and dedication to a dream that has come true and spread around the world.

Later, a visibly touched Dudamel said these words to maestro Abreu: “Thanks for dreaming and keep on dreaming, because this movement will last for ever and ever, and we can not thank you enough for this legacy”. “Long live the Venezuelan youth, long live Gustavo Dudamel!”, maestro Abreu said for an answer.

Amid the effusiveness, the Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra closed the concert with a brilliant performance of Claude-Achille Debussy’s La Mer.

On Saturday 13, and Sunday 14, at the Simón Bolívar Hall of the Center for Social Action through Music, maestro Gustavo Dudamel led the SBYOV in the performance of a program made up of symphonic fantasies after Shakespeare: The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet; by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

On Saturday 13, José Antonio Abreu receivedBrazil’s Order of Rio Branco for his work as music ambassador and his efforts to promote El Sistema education program around the world.

35^th Anniversary  academic concerts

Next Friday, February 19, at the Simón Bolívar Hall of the Center for Social Action through Music, 17:00 local time, Gustavo Dudamel will conduct the SBYOV in the performance of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony Nº 9 in D major.

The National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela has received many awards for the socio-cultural work developed for over 30 years. Among these awards are: the Polar Music Prize, the TED Prize, the Prince of Asturias Award, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, and probably the most important among all, the eternal recognition from all the children and young people who have had the opportunity of receiving an education for the soul.