Composers who participated in the "Composing Your Future" contestthe United Nations
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, the UN Country Team in Venezuela and “El Sistema”, the National System of Youth and Children´s Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela, launched the contest “Composing Your Future”, which invited musicians between the ages of 18 and 30 to compose a piece in the symphonic and choral-symphonic genre, inspired by the central theme of “The Future We Want”.
What Inspires Young Musicians
Living in harmony with the planet, fulfilling human rights, education, love, equality, solidarity, the right of children to live a happy life, perseverance and hope for a better future are some of the messages that inspired 32 young composers to write the new music that will inspire the world to build a better future together.
Julio Landaeta by El Sistema, Venezuelathe United Nations
The Winning Composers and their Messages
The works awarded from the cities of Barquisimeto, Upata and Los Teques were created by three young composers of great talent who inspired the jury with their proposals.
"My work is inspired by the theory of the great metaphysical master of the 20th century Neville Goddard, from whom I have learned the feeling of desire fulfilled. If I stumble, I get up and go on with resilience and perseverance"
Julio Landaeta
First Place, "Laberinto Encantado" (Enchanted Labyrinth)
Fernando Rivas by El Sistema, Venezuelathe United Nations
"Use music as a linguistic channel to unite all nations in the same purpose, to overcome crises and give the hope we need for the future."
Fernando Rivas
Second Place, "Epifanías del cataclismo" (Epiphanies of the Cataclysm)
Jorge Díaz by El Sistema, Venezuelathe United Nations
"We must build societies based on respect, equality, tolerance and equality of thought, with full access to technology so that today's youth can face global challenges."
Jorge Díaz
Third Place, "Amalivaca"
"The Enchanted Labyrinth" by Julio Landaeta
First Place of the contest "Composing Your Future"
The unpublished composition was brought to life with the performance of 65 young musicians from the Simón Bolívar 45th Anniversary Orchestra who recorded by groups following distancing rules to prevent COVID-19.
Doing Music in the Time of COVID-19
Young musicians from the Simón Bolívar 45th Anniversary Orchestra by El Sistema, Venezuelathe United Nations
The ambitious project of giving life to the winning piece, an unpublished composition, consisted in making the performance of 65 young musicians from the Simón Bolívar 45th Anniversary Orchestra possible, in accordance with the rules of distance to prevent COVID-19.
Conducting performance of the winning piece by the Simón Bolívar 45th Anniversary Orchestra by El Sistema, Venezuelathe United Nations
This task was possible thanks to a world-class educational, artistic and professional team of El Sistema, which also had the collaboration of recognized professionals such as a team of sound and editing engineers who have worked with institutions such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Hollywood Bowl.
The jury
The jury, composed by Peter Grohmann, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator of the UN in Venezuela, Eduardo Méndez, Executive Director of El Sistema, and world-renowned maestros Lourdes Sánchez, Alfredo Rugeles, Pablo Castellanos, Orlando Cardozo and Rodolfo Saglimbeni, examined a total of 32 musical proposals from all regions of the country, taking into account factors such as orchestration, organology, discourse, textures, writing, theme and the general vision of each work.
Lourdes Sánchez by El Sistema, Venezuelathe United Nations
Lourdes Sánchez
Alfredo Rugeles by El Sistema, Venezuelathe United Nations
Alfredo Rugeles
Pablo Castellanos by El Sistema, Venezuelathe United Nations
Pablo Castellanos
Orlando Cardozo by El Sistema, Venezuelathe United Nations
Orlando Cardozo
Rodolfo Saglimbeni by El Sistema, Venezuelathe United Nations
Rodolfo Saglimbeni
Eduardo Méndez by El Sistema, Venezuelathe United Nations
"El Sistema joins the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, with whom we have carried out “Composing your Future” to encourage the young musicians of El Sistema to create the new music that will serve as motivation and inspiration to advance towards a better future."
Eduardo Méndez, Executive Director of El Sistema
Peter Grohmann by El Sistema, Venezuelathe United Nations
"We are convinced of the power of the universal language of music to inspire and call for collective action to build more inclusive, peaceful and resilient societies, with gender equality, protecting the planet and accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals."
Peter Grohmann, Resident Coordinator of the UN in Venezuela
Promoting the Development and the Rights of Children and Youth
The UN and “El Sistema” have a longstanding partnership working in the promoting of social inclusion, peace and the resilience of children and youth in Venezuela. Among other initiatives, “El Sistema” is Promoter of Sustainable Human Development of UNDP and National Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF.
More than one million children and youth are part of “El Sistema", set up through 443 centers and 1704 modules throughout the country in urban and rural areas of Venezuela, making the plan for social transformation that Maestro Abreu dreamed of in 1975 a reality. The artistic and educational model has been replicated in more than 70 countries, giving access to the arts, culture and music to millions of children and young people around the world. On its 75th anniversary, the United Nations is proud to promote social inclusion and the rights of children and youth with El Sistema.
Footnotes
Carmen Morales and Daniela Acevedo, ONU Venezuela. Photography: El Sistema.
