Venezuela: Latin American musicians receive standing ovation

With 800 artists on stage, the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) celebrated its 35th anniversary along with 30 years of the Venezuelan System of Juvenile and Children's Orchestras, with the performance last thursday, June 30, of the Grand CAF Concert. After the masterful interpretation of Carmina Burana of Carl Orff and the Triumphal March from the opera Aída of Giuseppe Verdi the public gave a standing ovation for several minutes to the members of the Symphony Orchestra of Young Latin Americans, the Andean Juvenile Chorus and the National Symphony Chorus of the Cantemos Movement, under the direction of the distinguished young Venezuelan director Gustave Dudamel, and the maestro of vocal music Alberto Grau.

The concert represented the consolidation of the Social Action Program for Music, which CAF has promoted since 2000. The Program consists of the Andean and Latin American Juvenile Symphony Orchestras, the Andean Choral Voices, the Andean Traveling Conservatory and the Andean Lute Workshop.

CAF President & CEO Enrique García said that "culture as creative expression of peoples is part of the Corporation’s mission, which reaffirms its commitment to sustainable development and integration." The presentation of the Latin American Youth Orchestra - formed by young musicians aged 16 to 24 from all countries of South America, Central America and some Caribbean countries - is an unprecedented artistic event in the recent history of the classical music of the region.

Ana Mercedes Botero, CAF Cultural and Community Development Director, said that the main purpose of the program is "to promote civic culture by strengthening the intangible values that play a substantive role within the social fabric of all communities." The Social Action Program for Music expresses the human face of development and is a fundamental factor in social and regional integration.