Dudamel conducts the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela

For several years now, Gustavo Dudamel and the young musicians from the Venezuelan youth orchestra "Simón Bolívar" have been causing a furor on the international music scene. More than anything else, it is they who have earned the Venezuelan orchestra system respect around the world: Over 30 years ago, the conductor, composer and economist José Antonio Abreu had the vision of combining social work and classical music. Abreu's goal was to tear down elitist structures in music education and make music a fundamental right of all the country's children.