The Caracas Symphony Youth Orchestra (CSYO), an El Sistema’s ensemble –sponsored by the Caracas City Hall– paid tribute to Gustavo Dudamel during its last concert of the season on August 13 at the Center for Social Action through Music before a capacity audience of 900.

Maestro José Antonio Abreu, founder of the System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras, said he was proud to present an orchestra that although new has already achieved a high standard.

One of the most emotional moments of the night arrived when the Venezuelan musician Inocente Carreño, composer of Margariteña –the first work performed that night by the orchestra— came on stage.

“This work always brings me to tears, because it evokes images of a world that has ceased to exist, a world in which Carreño lived as a child in Margarita.”

The performance of this work was led by Dietrich Paredes, principal conductor of the Caracas Symphony Youth Orchestra, who explained the following:“Our increasingly demanding repertoire requires meticulous attention to details related not only to the musical aspects but to the context of the works, among other things.”

Gustavo Dudamel came on stage to conduct the first and third movement of Concerto for violin and orchestra by Piotr Ilych Tchaikovsky, performed by Franklin Bolívar, first chair violinist of the CSYO.

The Mayor of Caracas, Jorge Rodríguez, attended the concert and said: "Listening to an orchestra like this is very exciting, even more so if you have attended the first rehearsals just a few months ago; it’s also exciting when you know it is a lasting project. We witnessed the skillful performance of very complex musical works.

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Symphony Youth Orchestra of Caracas paid tribute to Gustavo Dudamel

“We firmly believe that culture must reach every corner of the city of Caracas; we thus support El Sistema wholeheartedly. It is a source of pride and we have worked in close collaboration with it since it is one of the most important social projects in the country. The orchestra will tour the Alba countries and perform at 2010 Expo-Shanghai where they will surely make us proud. We are making efforts to create and improve the 32 Caracas El Sistema community-based centers,” the Mayor added.

When asked about Dudamel conducting the CSYO he said: “Dudamel fills us with pride as Venezuelans. Most importantly, he always comes back to his homeland to work with his fellow Venezuelans."