EL SISTEMA GREECE: CHANGING PERCEPTIONS THROUGH MUSIC

The Story So Far
El Sistema Greece was founded in October 2016 in Attica as an initiative of Impact Hub Athens, promoting integration through music education. The ultimate goal of El Sistema in Greece is to promote the social inclusion of underprivileged children in Greek /European society. By teaching them music, they are not only inspired to strive for a better future, but music provides the platform for dialogue and togetherness across diverse communities.

Carrying on the legacy of the global El Sistema community, which was founded in Venezuela in 1975 and has so far educated nearly 800,000 children, El Sistema Greece is a community music project that is both philosophically and methodologically inspired by its native town. Up to this date, El Sistema Greece’s music instructors and paedagogists have been offering music classes to children, teenagers and young adults in refugee camps, hospitality units and community centers in Athens.

Public performances and concerts are an integral part of the El Sistema methodology. Thus, the El Sistema Greece students have participated in several performances in different locations and venues in Athens – from concert halls, to public spaces and open theatres. The most distinguished of them all, is perhaps a performance held literally under the majestic Acropolis in August, 2017.

During summer 2017,  El Sistema Greece hosted the Sistema Europe summer residency uniting more than 300 young musicians from the whole continent in Athens. The residency culminated with a performance held literally under the Acropolis, at the Herodes Atticus theatre. The most breathtaking part of this night, was seeing students from refugee camps share the stage with young musicians from all over Europe, and the world renowned opera singer Joyce DiDonato. Hearing Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” performed by this group and in this specific setting, was a moment in time.

A new chapter in Kypseli

In November 2017, a new chapter in the history of El Sistema Greece was born. A new cycle of music classes was launched in the recently renovated historical building of the Municipal Market of Kypseli, offering weekly choir and string-instruments lessons for children and teenagers. What makes this specific endeavor really important, is that it does not only invite children from the neighbourhood of Kypseli to attend music lessons along with children from vulnerable groups in joint classes, but also provides masterclasses from renowned musicians, choir and orchestras directors from other countries. Moreover, a big Christmas concert by the newly established El Sistema Greece Youth Orchestra was held at the Municipal Market of Kypseli drawing a huge crowd and media buzz. This specific concert could be considered a milestone for the Municipal Market of Kypseli as it launched a series of several other public events and activities within the premises of the establishment.

El Sistema Greece at the Opening of Living Realities-Changing Perceptions

Right now, El Sistema Greece has 400 young students in the wider Athens region, many of whom are the ones attending the weekly classes at the Municipal Market of Kypseli. This specific group of young El Sistema musicians will showcase their musical skills during a much anticipated performance at the opening of the Living Realities-Changing Perceptions in Athens,
A second performance by the El Sistema Greece Youth Orchestra will also take place, conducted by Phaedra Giannelou, while  the music teachers and instructrors of El Sistema Greece will invite children and adults to an innovative participatory music workshop that will take place the same evening.  http://elsistemagreece.com/