On February 5, the White Hands Chorus presented Claudio Abbado with a ninth special- edition pair of white gloves at the Center for Social Action through Music.

Last January 31, the White Hands Chrous received the 2010 Nonino Risit d'Aur Award after being nominated by the renowned Italian pianist and conductor. As a token of gratitude, 150 members of the abovementioned chorus gave this special-edition pair of gloves to maestro Abbado.

"I nominated the White Hands Chrorus for the Nonino Prize because it is one of a kind", Abbado commented.

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Abbado receives a special edition pair of gloves. 05-02-2010.

Accompanied by Gustavo Flores (member of the Lara Somos Quartet), their professors and directors, the members of the chorus presented Claudio Abbado with a little wooden box containing a special-edition pair of the white gloves used by the members of this unique ensemble .

The White Hands Chorus is a young ensemble formed in 1995 –  as part of El Sistema’s Special Education Program –  whose continued success has contributed to advance their music education over the years. Claudio Abbado, who maintains close ties with the National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela, has conducted the SBYOV in concerts in Europe and the Americas.

White gloves around the world

The inscription carved in the wooden box containing the white gloves reads: "Man of a noble heart". Jhonny Gómez, director of the Special Education Program, explained how they came up with the idea of these special-edition gloves:

We were moved by the words of Michael Landerburger, museum director of the Beethoven-Haus, who came to Venezuela in 2003. He said that if Beethoven had knew the White Hands Chorus he would have composed for it. That is why we decided to present Landerburger with a pair of gloves as a symbol of these children’s work… We were greatly surprised when we knew that the gloves would be displayed at the museum with Beethoven’s belongings.

Source: Aurelina Romero