Venezuela First Latin American Country in Orchestra Festival

Venezuela is the first Latin American country to have its national orchestra participate in the Festival of International Orchestras, which opened in Italy on Wednesday.

Over 1,000 Venezuelans will take part in the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra, the Caracas Youth Symphony and the National Youth Choir.

The ensembles will be led in various performances by famed Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel in Milan’s La Scala theater until Sept. 4.

According to the organizing committee, it is the first time a Latin American country has enjoyed such significant participation.

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The South American country has risen to international fame for its revolutionary way of teaching music, known as “el sistema.” Music programs contain a social initiative to make them accessible to lower income children from a young age, as a way to reduce crime. In this way, Venezuela’s pioneering music programs have had success helping prisoners to participate in music, as well as children with functional diversity or physical and cognitive disabilities.