- HILTI Foundation

Medienmitteilung
The Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra of Venezuela to make debut
appearance in Liechtenstein
Schaan, September 3, 2012 – The celebrated Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra of
Venezuela will begin its second European tour with a concert in Schaan,
Liechtenstein. The concert is sponsored jointly by the Hilti Foundation and TAK
Theater Liechtenstein.
The Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra of Venezuela (TCYOV) will begin its second
European tour in the fall of this year, having previously played on the Continent in
2010. The tour will make stops in Hamburg, Germany; Toulouse, France and
Stavanger, Norway. In advance of the tour the orchestra is due to play a concert in
Schaan, Liechtenstein. The TCYOV concert marks the first time that a music group
from the famed El Sistema music education program will play in Liechtenstein. Led by
principal conductor Christian Vásquez, the orchestra will play works from Richard
Strauss, Leonard Bernstein and Dmitri Shostakovich on Tuesday, October 16 at 20:00
in the SAL Schaan.
Tickets go on sale Tuesday, September 4.
El Sistema history and background
Venezuelan composer, economist, politician, educator and activist Dr. José Antonio
Abreu, 73, had a vision some 35 years ago. He wanted to provide children coming
from the poorer classes in Venezuela with a classical music education, using the music
to contribute to their social and psychological stabilization, thereby giving them an
alternative to life on the streets. He founded the first youth orchestra in a Caracas
parking garage in 1975 together with eleven students. In doing so he set the
cornerstone for a network that has gained worldwide renown, under the name El
Sistema, that currently includes some 400 children’s and youth orchestras, 340 choirs
and 270 music schools that employ approximately 4000 instructors. El Sistema
currently provides musical instruction to more than 350,000 children who have the
opportunity to make music together in various orchestras. What may sound like a fairy
tale is actually the extraordinary story of a courageous vision that has become
incredibly successful. Dr. Abreu’s revolutionary idea created an escape from the cycle
of poverty prevalent in the country’s barrios. The musical education gives the children
and young people an opportunity to freely choose their future path, something they
would not have otherwise had as street children. From the outset the children are
schooled in small groups which generate mutual respect, solidarity and friendship.
TAK Theater Liechtenstein | Alexa Seeger | Pressereferentin | Reberastrasse 10-12 | 9494 Schaan | Liechtenstein
M 00423 792 5310 | T 00423 237 59 67 | F 00423 237 59 61 | E [email protected] | www.tak.li/presse
Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra of Venezuela
The approximately 200 talented musicians of the Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra of
Venezuela, all aged between 14 and 19, represent El Sistema’s second orchestra
generation, the first being the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra and its most famous
alumnus, Gustavo Dudamel. The TCYOV regularly plays Venezuela’s most significant
concert halls and appears with renowned directors and soloists from around the world.
The orchestra made its European debut in 2010, making a tour of the most important
musical centers, including Vienna, Berlin, London and Madrid. They were led by
director Christian Vásquez, who, at 27, is one of the most talented young directors to
come from the Venezuelan music initiative.
In addition to his fellow Venezuelan Gustavo Dudamel, Christian Vásquez is known as
one of the most talented young musical directors in the world. Vásquez already leads
the world famous Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra and works regularly with
international orchestras, such as the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the
Gävle Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Arts
Centre Orchestra, the Bamberger Symphoniker and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Cooperation between the Hilti Foundation and TAK Theater Liechtenstein
The TCYOV’s debut in Liechtenstein is made possible by cooperation between TAK
Theater Liechtenstein and the Hilti Foundation which has supported El Sistema and
the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra since 2008.
Christine Rhomberg, head of culture at the Hilti Foundation: “It is of particular
importance for us to be able to offer the country, and the surrounding region, an
opportunity to experience a group from this fascinating and exemplary music initiative
live, for the first time, in the form of the Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra of
Venezuela.”
Barbara Ellenberger, artistic director of TAK adds: “It’s a great honor and pleasure for
the TAK to host a concert for the country and region featuring these highly-musical and
enthusiastic young musicians.”
Meeting with the young musicians
The entire visit of the TCYOV has been organized as a musical learning experience.
Children and youths from the region will have the opportunity to attend concert
rehearsals and to take part in music workshops with the orchestra members. The focus
is on an exchange of experiences among the young musicians and experiencing the
music as a unifying language.
TAK Theater Liechtenstein | Alexa Seeger | Pressereferentin | Reberastrasse 10-12 | 9494 Schaan | Liechtenstein
M 00423 792 5310 | T 00423 237 59 67 | F 00423 237 59 61 | E [email protected] | www.tak.li/presse
Donating musical instruments
A drive to collect musical instruments to benefit El Sistema music schools is also
planned for the region under the motto Music ─ an opportunity for a better future.
Functioning instruments that are no longer needed or used can be donated at the TAK
Theater Liechtenstein (Reberastrasse 10, 9494 Schaan) in advance of the concert, or
donated directly in the foyer of the SAL in Schaan on the evening of the concert. The
instruments collected will be checked by two renowned instrument makers: Alexander
Caballero, a former El Sistema student, and Adrian Lohri. The instruments will be
repaired if required before being given to the music schools within El Sistema.
Thanks
The Hilti Foundation and TAK Theater Liechtenstein wish to thank their partners for
their commitment to promoting art and culture for children and young people, both in
Liechtenstein and abroad.
Freunde des TAK Foundation
Ars Rhenia Foundation promoting supraregional art and culture
Ospelt Catering AG
Advance ticket sales
As of September 4, at the TAK Theater Liechtenstein
Reberastrasse 10, Schaan
Phone: +423 237 59 69
Fax: +423 237 59 71
E-mail: [email protected]
Online tickets: www.tak.li
The Hilti Foundation
The Hilti Foundation was established in 1996 as a charitable organization by the Martin Hilti Family Trust.
Since 2007, the Hilti Foundation has been a joint organization of the Martin Hilti Family Trust and the Hilti
Group.
The objective of Hilti Foundation’s support projects is aimed at improving the quality of life for as many
people and creating the general conditions that offer disadvantaged people the opportunity to enhance their
standard of living through their own efforts. Under its guiding principle “We build a better future”, the
Foundation supports activities and projects in the following focus areas: Affordable housing, Community
development, Culture, Disaster relief, Education and Social entrepreneurship.
For further information visit: www.hilti-foundation.org.
TAK Theater Liechtenstein | Alexa Seeger | Pressereferentin | Reberastrasse 10-12 | 9494 Schaan | Liechtenstein
M 00423 792 5310 | T 00423 237 59 67 | F 00423 237 59 61 | E [email protected] | www.tak.li/presse