HOW TO SAVE THE WORLD

It all started in a parking garage with 15 kids and one music teacher in 1975 in Caracas, Venezuela. The teacher was musician José Abreu, who thought it would be a good idea to give kids living in the poorest and most crime-ridden areas of the city something to do other than to get involved in drugs and crime. Now, 35 years later, the entire country has bee transformed; 350,000 kids are studying and playing music—classical music. The Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra in Caracas is now world famous, young musician “graduates” of the program are playing in major symphony orchestras around the world, and 28-year-old Gustavo Dudamel is Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. No wonder the country is rightly proud of El Sistema or The System, as the now government-supported program is called.

Toronto music critic William Littler wrote about his visit to Caracas. A Google of El Sistema will take you to many other articles.

Needless to say, other countries and cities have taken up the challenge and started similar programs. There are the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, El Sistema USA, and The Big Noise in Scotland, and this is only the beginning.

Here in Vancouver, we are already well ahead with the Saint James Music Academy, founded three years ago by downtown eastside resident Kathy Walker. When she first engaged a few music teachers, offered free instruction to local kids, and used space donated by Saint James Anglican Church, she had never heard of El Sistema. Now, with 75 kids from early elementary school to high school age, the Academy has just presented its Spring Recital (June 11, 2010). A wildly enthusiastic and deeply moved audience filled Saint James Church to the rafters to see the Academy’s orchestra, choir, chamber ensemble, and soloists. What these young people have accomplished in a mere three years is astounding. But that’s not all; individual lives have been transformed by the experience of learning and playing together. It’s all about the power of music and music making to give meaning and direction to young lives.

We are seeing this as a seed that has been planted and fertilized and that will grow and spread. Let’s start El Sistema BC; let’s transform the youth of our society; let’s look forward to a citizenry of enlightened and creative people who will change the world.

This is the real road to arts advocacy!!

Tom Durrie, president
Saint James Music Academy Board of Directors