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Jose Antonio Abreu

A Venezuelan pianist, economist, educator, activist, and politician

Born in the city of Valera in 1939, Abreu graduated Summa Cum Laude as an Economist at Universidad Católica Andres Bello and he was awarded a PhD degree in Petroleum Economics from the same university in 1961.[1] Abreu also did some graduate work at the University of Michigan. He served as a Deputy at the Chamber of Deputies in the Congress of Venezuela. After his political career, he also worked as a professor of economics and law at Universidad Simón Bolívar and his Alma Mater. He would return to politics briefly in 1983 to serve as Minister of Culture.

Abreu began to study music with Doralisa Jiménez de Medina in Barquisimeto. Later, he attended the Caracas Musical Declamation Academy in 1957, where he studied piano with Moisés Moleiro, organ and harpsichord with Evencio Castellanos, and composition with Vicente Emilio Sojo. In 1967, he received the Symphonic Music National Prize for his musical ability. It was in 1975 that he founded El Sistema, formally known as the Foundation for the National Network of Youth and Children Orchestras of Venezuela.

This was an innovative youth education method in which music was the primary avenue for social and intellectual improvement. He received the National Music Prize for this work at El Sistema in 1979. Under Abreu's guidance, El Sistema has participated in exchange and cooperation programmes with Spain, Latin American countries and the United States.

(Profile information sourced from Wikipedia and other publicly available internet sources.)

Jose Antonio Abreu on the web

Wikipedia: Jose Antonio Abreu
TED: Jose Antonio Abreu

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YOA Orchestra of the Americas

1001 19th Street N, 16th Fl, Arlington, VA 22209

p: 703 236 0010
f: 703 236 0011

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YOA Orchestra of the Americas

Organization

A Powerful Network Transforming Lives and Communities through Music

Led by Artistic Advisor, Plácido Domingo, YOA is a multicultural, world-class symphony orchestra of 100 gifted young musicians, ages 18 and 30, from more than 20 countries of the Western Hemisphere. Musicians are selected through a rigorous audition process at local, national and international levels. The finest musicians are chosen to participate on full scholarship to allow for the greatest diversity possible. Each July, the musicians gather for a 2-week residency to participate in master classes and rehearsals of diverse and challenging repertoire in preparation for a 3-week concert tour in multiple countries of the Western Hemisphere, and beyond. Over 10,000 youth have auditioned and more than 700 participated in YOA to date.

The mission of YOA is to bring together energetic, talented musicians to pursue excellence and celebrate cultural diversity as a catalyst for social change.

Our vision is to enable outstanding young musicians from all backgrounds to realize their artistic passion and human potential and become effective ambassadors by bringing the transformational power of orchestral music to diverse audiences.

YOA is a certified non-profit organization incorporated in the United States, Costa Rica, and Venezuela. YOACanada is a certified charitble institution with Canada Revenue Agency.