As Venezuela's future remains uncertain, its symphony orchestra reaches a new milestone

"A Grammy nomination is nothing new for conductor Gustavo Dudamel. The music director designate of the New York Philharmonic, who is currently concluding his 17-year-tenure as music and artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, has won seven Grammys over the course of his career. This year alone, he's nominated in three separate categories. But for the first time, one of those nominations is with an orchestra born from the musical system that raised Dudamel and launched his career: the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra (SBSO)."

"The orchestra is the flagship ensemble of Venezuela's world-renowned music education program, commonly known as El Sistema. For decades, El Sistema has promoted classical music as a vehicle for social change and development, providing free and rigorous training to more than a million children across Venezuela, according to their own figures. It has inspired similar models and dozens of member organizations in other countries."

"In recent years, El Sistema has also sparked backlash for its close relationship with the Venezuelan government, which faces an unprecedented and unpredictable path forward following the recent ousting of autocratic president Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces. Last spring, SBSO and Dudamel celebrated El Sistema's 50th anniversary with a European tour and a recording of Ravel's Bolero, which earned a Grammy nomination for best orchestral performance."

Gustavo Dudamel, concluding a 17-year tenure with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and designated music director of the New York Philharmonic, has won seven Grammys and holds three nominations this year. One nomination is with the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, the flagship ensemble of Venezuela's El Sistema. El Sistema provides free, rigorous classical training to more than a million children and has inspired similar programs internationally. The program has faced backlash for its close relationship with the Venezuelan government amid the recent ousting of President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces. The SBSO's recording of Ravel's Bolero, released during El Sistema's 50th anniversary European tour, earned a Grammy nomination for best orchestral performance.

Read at www.npr.org