Dr. José Antonio Abreu is recipient of the 2009 TED Prize. TED’s curator, Chris Anderson, said the jury decided to grant this prize on Dr. Abreu for the outstanding work carried out through El Sistema for over 34 years. The Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) Prize is awarded annually and grants three extraordinary individuals a wish to change the world, a cash prize, and support in making the wish come true.

Dr. Abreu’s wish was delivered at the TED Conference held at Long Beach, California, last Thursday, February 5. He was introduced by Quincy Jones who said that El Sistema's founder was one of the world’s greatest creators, who came up with a program to bring music education to poor children and youngsters, and nowadays over two thousand of them compose El Sistema’s orchestras.

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Abreu appeared via a live video hookup from Venezuela, and delivered his wish:

“I wish you would help create and document a special training program for at least 50 gifted young musicians, passionate for their art and for social justice, and dedicated to developing El Sistema in the U.S. and in other countries”.

After Abreu spoke, the Teresa Carreño Symphony Orchestra - composed of El Sistema students - performed from Caracas Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony N° 10, and Arturo Márquez’s Danzón N° 2. From Long Beach, California, a long standing ovation was given to the orchestra by the Ted Audience.

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Gustavo Dudamel, who conducted the orchestra, said they talked through music, and added: “In Venezuela there is someone who put all his effort into making his dream come true, and here is the result.”