Carnegie Hall

The National Children’s Symphony of Venezuela (NCSV) was conceived by Maestro José Antonio Abreu in 1995 and now comprises some of the most talented children and teenagers across the country, aged 10–17. Almost 50 years into the history of El Sistema—Venezuela’s national federally funded music education program—the NCSV highlights how, through the collective practice of music, the educational methodology of El Sistema supports the dreams of its members.

The fifth generation of the NCSV comprises 170 talented musicians along with its musical director, Andrés David Ascanio Abreu. They made their debut in February 2023 during the celebration of the 48th anniversary of El Sistema. In April 2023, the ensemble made its first international tour to Geneva, Switzerland, where it performed at Victoria Hall and the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room of the United Nations.

The NCSV began performing in 1995 on international stages such as the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and the UN headquarters in New York City. In 1998, it performed at UNESCO’s headquarters, where Mr. Abreu was awarded the title of UNESCO Ambassador and the young musicians were honored as Artists for Peace. They have also performed in Milan, Naples, Florence, Rome, and the Vatican. In 1999, the NCSV appeared at the Fiuggi-Anagni, Taormina Art 99, and Montevago festivals.

In 2000, the NCSV performed in Hannover, Düsseldorf, Heilbronn, Munich, Münster, Magdeburg, and Berlin, as well as in Jamaica and Brazil. In 2001, it performed at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, as well as at the UN, and in 2002, it performed in Italy and Germany. In 2010, a new iteration of the NCSV made its debut conducted by Sir Simon Rattle; it subsequently performed at the 2013 Salzburg Festival, also with Mr. Rattle. In 2015, the fourth generation of the NCSV was formed and performed at La Scala in Milan, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.

Gustavo Dudamel is driven by the belief that music has the power to transform lives, to inspire, and to change the world. Through his dynamic presence on the podium and his tireless advocacy for arts education, he has introduced classical music to new audiences around the globe and has helped provide access to the arts for countless people in underserved communities. Mr. Dudamel currently serves as Music and Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Music Director of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra; in 2026, he becomes the Music and Artistic Director of the New York Philharmonic, continuing a legacy that includes Gustav Mahler, Arturo Toscanini, and Leonard Bernstein.

Mr. Dudamel is one of the few classical musicians to become a bona fide pop-culture phenomenon, with film credits that include Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Bernstein’s West Side Story, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and The Simpsons; in addition, he led the LA Phil with Billie Eilish in the concert film Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles. He has performed at the Super Bowl halftime show, the Academy Awards, and the Nobel Prize Concert, and has worked with international superstars who include Christina Aguilera; Ricky Martin; Tyler, The Creator; Coldplay; and others. His extensive discography includes 67 releases and four Grammy Awards.

Inspired by his transformative experience as a youth in El Sistema, Venezuela’s immersive musical training program, he created the Dudamel Foundation in 2012, which he co-chairs with his wife, actress and director María Valverde, with the goal “to expand access to music and the arts for young people by providing tools and opportunities to shape their creative futures.” In July and August 2022, the Dudamel Foundation brought its “Encuentros” initiative to the Hollywood Bowl as part of its 100th-anniversary season in a two-week intensive global leadership and orchestral training program for young musicians from around the world, culminating in a concert at the Hollywood Bowl and a tour with the Orquesta del Encuentro to the legendary Greek Theatre in Berkeley, California.