The second leg of the Al Encuentro con Venezuela Tour started last Monday, January 25, with a concert at Plaza La Monumental – also known as Plaza de Toros (bullring) -- in Valencia, state of Carabobo. The event started with the presentation of the Order of Arturo Michelena to Gustavo Dudamel, and the keys to the city of Valencia to maestro José Antonio Abreu, founder of the youth and children's orchestras of Venezuela.

The SBYOV opened the concert with Antonín Dvorak’s Slavonic Dances, followed by Wagner’s Rienzi Overture, Evencio Castellanos’ Santa Cruz de Pacairigua, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony N° 4 and 1812 Overture, and Bernstein’s Mambo from West Side Story, which was requested by the audience. The concert closed with Pedro Elías Gutiérrez’s Alma Llanera.

During the concert, the Carabobo Symphony Orchestra –introduced to the audience by Dudamel-- joined the SBYOV to perform two pieces. One of the members of the local orchestra, the young musician Joshua Dos Santos, was invited by Dudamel to conduct one of those pieces.

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Al Encuentro con Venezuela Tour. Valencia.

Al Encuentro con Venezuela Tour started in December 2009 taking in many cities of the country, and continues this year --which looks very promising for the orchestra already-- in Valencia and Marcaibo, State of Zulia.

Scholarships for young musicians

Earlier that day, at the Intercontinental Valencia, the Mayor of the city signed the renewal of an agreement to award scholarships and provide children and young people with locations to learn and enjoy music.

The Mayor of Valencia, Edgardo Parra, highlighted that a new location was built last year, and the remodeling of an existing location was started in the southern area of the state. A total of Bs.1,000,000 was awarded in scholarships last year to support the music education program created by maestro José Antonio Abreu.

“These scholarships allow young people to see music as an honorable way to earn one’s living”, said Abreu to express his gratitude to the city hall.

During the event, Joshua Dos Santos was presented with the SBYOV’s honorary sash for promoting the creation of the symphony orchestra of the region.