This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/mar/25/jose-abreu-founder-venezuelan-el-sistema-youth-orchestras-dies

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
José Abreu, founder of Venezuelan El Sistema youth orchestras, dies José Abreu, founder of Venezuelan El Sistema youth orchestras, dies
(about 2 hours later)
José Abreu, the award-winning founder of a project that saved thousands of Venezuelan children from crime and poverty through music, has died aged 78.José Abreu, the award-winning founder of a project that saved thousands of Venezuelan children from crime and poverty through music, has died aged 78.
Abreu founded the globally acclaimed El Sistema, or The System, in 1975 in a garage with nine musicians. From that, the network expanded to 300 choirs and orchestras that received awards from the Royal Swedish Academy and Unesco.Abreu founded the globally acclaimed El Sistema, or The System, in 1975 in a garage with nine musicians. From that, the network expanded to 300 choirs and orchestras that received awards from the Royal Swedish Academy and Unesco.
“With devoted love and eternal gratitude to my mentor and father of El Sistema,” tweeted Gustavo Dudamel, the Venezuelan conductor and director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, alongside a photo of himself with Abreu, who died on Saturday.“With devoted love and eternal gratitude to my mentor and father of El Sistema,” tweeted Gustavo Dudamel, the Venezuelan conductor and director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, alongside a photo of himself with Abreu, who died on Saturday.
Abreu was born on 7 May 1939 in the small Andean city of Valera. He began his musical studies aged nine and moved to Caracas to study composition.Abreu was born on 7 May 1939 in the small Andean city of Valera. He began his musical studies aged nine and moved to Caracas to study composition.
“Abreu has given life to a musical system with which young people can be safe from the dangers of the street, of crime, of drugs,” said Simon Rattle, the director of the Berlin Philharmonic, according to the El Sistema website.“Abreu has given life to a musical system with which young people can be safe from the dangers of the street, of crime, of drugs,” said Simon Rattle, the director of the Berlin Philharmonic, according to the El Sistema website.
Abreu’s model has been followed by other Latin American countries as well as some in Europe.Abreu’s model has been followed by other Latin American countries as well as some in Europe.
Dudamel has become the public face of El Sistema in recent years, often conducting free concerts in Caracas’ grimy downtown area. Dudamel has become the public face of El Sistema in recent years, often conducting free concerts in the grimy downtown area of Caracas.
He has spoken out strongly in support of anti-government protests that last year rocked Venezuela for four months, leaving more than 120 people dead, including an 18-year-old musician from the Venezuela National Youth Orchestra.He has spoken out strongly in support of anti-government protests that last year rocked Venezuela for four months, leaving more than 120 people dead, including an 18-year-old musician from the Venezuela National Youth Orchestra.
*We are deeply moved by the physical departure of maestro Abreu, the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, said on state television. Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, said on state television: “We are deeply moved by the physical departure of maestro Abreu.”
El SistemaEl Sistema
VenezuelaVenezuela
AmericasAmericas
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content