Announcing the launch of Music In Action Journal: A Knowledge Hub for the Frontlines of Music-For-Social-Action
When cultural historians reflect on the late 20th and early 21st centuries, one of the most significant paradigm shifts noted will be the explosion of music-for-social-action initiatives across the globe. Inspired by the work of pioneering figures including Jorge Peña... Read More →
Orquesta de Peñalolén: A Source of Community Pride in Santiago, Chile
The Peñalolén Orchestras Program began in 2000 as a social program dedicated to the ideas that children are most important, and that their instruments are the bridge to improve their quality of life. With a very small budget, we are... Read More →
The Ambassadors’ Exchange, May 2019
Artistic Youth Camps Across Kenya, by Linet Othieno (Kenya) Exciting things have been happening every day this month at Ghetto Classics. We had 4 two-week camps take place. First was the Ghetto Classics Mukuru kwa Ruben, a music program in Nairobi. The kids... Read More →
Preserving Traditional Venezuelan Music
For many years, El Sistema in Venezuela has placed an emphasis on studying, teaching, and playing the rich folk musics of the country. Now a new article in Smithsonian Magazine highlights those folk traditions and describes the importance of preserving... Read More →
AMBASSADORS: The “Girls in Music” Project
Throughout 2018, the “Girls in Music” project fostered debates and strengthened ideas on gender equity for members of NEOJIBA. As part of this project, 18 female teachers and musicians were invited to share their experiences and provide masterclasses to students.... Read More →
The Ambassadors’ Exchange, April 2019
Music Rises After Years of Oppression, by Timor Sultani (Sweden) After decades of darkness, light is coming to Kabul. Five years ago, Zohra Orchestra became Afghanistan’s first all-female orchestra, in a place where women’s rights were once destroyed by the Taliban. Zohra Orchestra,... Read More →
The Ambassadors’ Exchange, March 2019
Music and Mission: Bridging the Years through Music by Axelle Miel (Philippines) On 9 February, the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth (OFY), led by their conductor Joshua Dos Santos, performed a pre-Valentine’s Day concert titled “Musika at Misyon” (Music and... Read More →
EDITORIAL: Inspiration from Venezuelan Master Teachers
The U.S. El Sistema-inspired movement felt like “a field” at the El Sistema USA National Symposium in Detroit, Michigan this past January, as we honored our lineage together and shared new ideas about how to advance our practice. The symposium... Read More →
Join the Global Leaders Program
Last month’s issue of The World Ensemble carried an article on the annual gathering in Chile of The Global Leaders Program 2019 Cohort — an initiative of The Orchestra of the Americas with support from the Hildegard Behrens Foundation. The Global Leaders Program is... Read More →
Save the Date: Make Music Day will be 21 June
Every year, in increasing numbers, musicians around the world take to the streets on 21 June for Make Music Day. The celebration began 36 years ago in France and now includes over 800 cities. Amateur musicians, professionals, teachers giving free... Read More →