Last Sunday, the founder of the National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela, José Antonio Abreu, paid an emotional visit to his home town Valera, in the state of Trujillo. Eight hundred children and youths members of El Sistema’s youth and children’s orchestras and choirs of Trujillo gave a concert to celebrate the donation of 1,600 musical instruments that will contribute with the development of this music education program in Trujillo.

The governor of Trujillo commitment with this social project goes beyond the donation of violins, violas, double basses, drums, horns, bassoons, trumpets, flutes, trombones, and tubas. He promised to build a Center for Social Action through Music on an 8,65 acres lot, which he estimates will be ready by the middle of 2012.

This kind of projects are possible thanks to the joined efforts of the System of Youth and Children's Orchestras of Venezuela –a foundation attached to the Vice presidency of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela– and the local governments of the Venezuelan states.

"Music is the best gift a kid can receive. By distributing these instruments we are fostering justice and brotherhood,“ said maestro Abreu.

The orchestra, led by the promising conductor Víctor Ramírez, thrilled the packed audience that attended the concert with the performance of Tchaikovsky's Slave March, Strauss’ Radetzky March, Venezuela by Pablo Herrero and José Luis Armentero (with arrangements by Ricardo Gómez), Alma Llanera and the Venezuelan anthem.

“This concert is not a tribute to me; It is a tribute to the children of Trujillo and the professors who played an essential role in shaping this orchestra (…) As a native of Trujillo I feel proud of this orchestra.

The founder and director of El Sistema announced that the Youth Orchestra of Trujillo would perform in a concert that will be held in Caracas to mark the national Youth Day. He also announced that the orchestra would be accompanied by maestro Víctor Ramírez and a special guest artist: maestro Gustavo Dudamel.