In Saturday’s (6/29) New York Times, Monique O. Madan reports on preparations for a June 28 concert in upper Manhattan by young string players benefiting several El Sistema-inspired music education programs, and interviews several of the kids. “They are all members of youth orchestras that expose children from disadvantaged backgrounds to classical music. Experienced musicians teach them to play a variety of stringed instruments.… The young musicians will get an opportunity to show off their skills at a concert on Saturday night at the United Palace Theater, in Washington Heights, that will be hosted by Jamie Bernstein, a daughter of Leonard Bernstein.… Ticket sales from the concert will help six youth orchestra groups—four in New York City, one in Union City, N.J., and one in New Orleans—that have adopted El Sistema, a popular music education and character-building program for underprivileged children that was founded in Venezuela over 40 years ago. Gustavo Dudamel, the music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, is one of the program’s most famous graduates.… The concert will also include performances by musicians from the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.” The Corona Youth Music Project, Harmony Program, Union City Music Project, UpBeat NYC, Washington Heights and Inwood (WHIN) Music Project, and Youth Orchestra of St. Luke’s, all based in the New York metropolitan area, were among the El Sistema programs performing at the benefit.
Posted June 30, 2014
Pictured: Rehearsal for Saturday’s benefit concert at the United Palace Theater in Manhattan featuring six youth orchestras.
