El Sistema National Orchestra

The new national youth orchestra is the first of its kind in Europe. The young musicians, ranging in age from 11 to 19, are from the El Sistema programme and culture schools throughout Sweden. In partnership with Konserthuset and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra as well as Berwaldhallen and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, a music camp has been arranged that culminates in this public concert here at Konserthuset.

“Our vision is to show through the orchestra how far we’ve come with El Sistema in Sweden,” says Ron Davis Alvarez, artistic director for El Sistema in Sweden and for the national youth orchestra. “El Sistema in Sweden is one of the best examples of musical and social practices. Not only can we now show the high musical quality; we can also inspire kids and teens to reach their full potential through practice and musicianship.”

In addition to the classical repertoire, El Sistema’s National Orchestra will also have a significant focus on newly composed and contemporary music. The orchestra has around 40 members at this initial stage, and will ultimately include 80–100 kids and teens, who participate in the music camp at different locations throughout the country in partnership with symphony orchestras and concert houses.

This project was made possible by a new partnership between El Sistema Foundation Sweden and Stim’s Council for the Promotion of Music and is also supported by El Sistema’s running financier, SEB, and the music foundation Signatur.