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Welcome
to EL SISTEMA-NEW YORK CITY (ES-NYC). We are a group of inspired individualsall
volunteersdedicated to bringing José Antonio Abreu's
music education system to New York City along with what NYU Professor
and NY Times music critic Allan Kozinn referred to as "what's
needed now" for all New York City public schools.
El Sistema-NYC
member Olivia Koppell presents Maestro José Antonio Abreu
with a Proclamation from the City of New York celebrating his
music education//social program, El Sistema. June 7, 2008
(Photo courtesy of ES-NYC member Charity MacDonald)
José
Antonio Abreu started EL
SISTEMA in Venezuela in 1975 with 11 musicians and 25 music
stands. ” It has grown into a global phenomenon increasingly
recognized as one of the most successful and innovative music education
programs ever created. The core idea consists of the formation of
community-based youth orchestras by providing free instruments and
tuition to underprivileged children living in poverty-stricken areas
including children with disabilities. We are seeking to replicate
El Sistema in New York City with the vision of free music education
for any and all children.
ES-NYC members
Jacqui Danilow, Olivia Koppell
exhibit the Proclamation from the New York City Council
through the office of Councilmember G. Oliver Koppell
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We embrace Maestro José Antonio Abreu's
ideals so powerfully expressed in the final words of his speech
before the Venezuelan B'nai B'rith when he accepted the Human Rights
Award on February 26, 2008:
En el combate por los Derechos Humanos, incorporemos con vigor el sublime derecho de los niños a la música, en cuyo seno fulge el Ser en su esplendor y en su inefable misterio.
Revelemos a nuestros niños la belleza de la música y la música revelará a nuestros niños la belleza de la vida.
"In the struggle for Human Rights, let us vigorously
incorporate children's sublime right to music, in whose
bosom shines Beingness in its splendor and its ineffable mystery.
Let us reveal to our children the beauty
of music and music shall reveal to our children the beauty of life."
[Translation by ES-NYC founding member José
Bergher.
For the full text (English and Spanish) of Maestro Abreu's acceptance
speech, please CLICK
HERE.]
And, due to the tremendous interest
around the country and the world, ES-NYC has extended its resources
and info-sharing to places like:
- Hampton Roads, Virginia
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Charlottesville, Virginia
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Marietta, Georgia
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Bangkok, Thailand via Cambridge,
England
- Manila, Philippines
- Pretoria,
South Africa, UNICEF
We also have established idea-and-knowledge
sharing with Sistema Scotland through Peter Stevenson, partner to
Project Director Nicola Killean.
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