The C.O.N. SONANZA Choir and Orchestra Network in Germany is an endeavour of founding members of Venezuela’s well-known EL SISTEMA music programme and introduces this inclusive concept to Munich. It is an innovative art and social project for children and teenagers. What is special about it is that young people without prior musical knowledge, educationally deprived, from migrant or refugee communities and/or with disabilities are included in the project. And they start making music together, as members of the choir and orchestra, immediately. The principles are 1) excellent musical education free of charge, 2) communal learning and rehearsing, and 3) learning through playing.

In Venezuela, about 1 million children nowadays take part in the programme, which was founded in 1975 and out of which the world-famous Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra was born. El Sistema’s method has been adopted in more than 50 countries across the globe, and has effected great personal change for individuals, families, and whole societies.

Thanks to the Hans Thomann Foundation’s generous donation of instruments, it has been possible to establish this project in Munich in 2019. The first of the children who have joined C.O.N. SONANZA are already looking forward to play the Thomann instruments.

By rehearsing simplified classical musical compositions as an ensemble, the members of the orchestra and choir make quick progress as a group, which creates both great cohesion amongst them highly motivates everyone. The charismatic young teachers, most of whom were involved in El Sistema in Venezuela, maintain a cooperative spirit and facilitate the learning-by-playing approach.

Everyone should have the opportunity to experience classical music; according to Dr. Abreu, founder of El Sistema, art used to be a project by a minority for a minority, then by a minority for the majority, and we are helping everyone move into a new era, an era in which art is a project by a majority for a majority.

 

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Photos: Patricia Riera

 

Author:
Constanza Vagnini-Holbl
President of the board, C.O.N. SONANZA