El Sistema Lehigh Valley’s Mission
El Sistema Lehigh Valley, a program of the Allentown Symphony Association, brings underserved and special needs youth a free opportunity to develop life skills learned by participating in high-quality daily music instruction, large ensemble experience and performances, and academic tutoring within a safe and nurturing environment. Participants will develop discipline, the ability to set and achieve long-term goals, and a sense of social responsibility inside a community that cherishes creativity, imagination, and music. This will empower the Lehigh Valley community when their young artists, respective families, and community members come together to celebrate the achievement of their youths.
An Overview
El Sistema Lehigh Valley (ESLV) at Roosevelt Elementary School is a free music education program made possible through the Allentown Symphony Association’s collaboration with the Allentown School District. ESLV provides all participating students with intensive afterschool orchestral instrumental instruction, choir instruction, academic tutoring, and an after-school snack. The rich music curriculum creates a cooperative, fun, a nurturing environment for the children to explore their creativity as individuals and as a large ensemble.
In combination with the impressive number after-school opportunities available to the students and community members through Roosevelt Elementary & United Way, ESLV will help make Roosevelt an community center for joyful music making and will eventually grow to serve hundreds of students in the community.
Participation and use of instruments is free to all students as long as they uphold their contract to care for the instrument, practice and participate in ESLV programming, and academic tutoring.
A Brief History
ESLV is inspired by the Venezuelan music education system, El Sistema that nurtured the current Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Gustavo Dudamel & Berlin Philharmonic bassist Edicson Ruiz. El Sistema in Venezuela has been operating for the last 37 years, and currently provides approximately 350,000 children with free music instruments and music instruction so they may play in youth orchestras throughout the country andthe world!
International Acclaim
“There is no more important work being done in music now than is being done in Venezuela. . . . It is so clear this is not only enriching lives but saving lives.”
Sir Simon Rattle,
Music Director of the
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
"This is something unique that has to be seen by the whole world... Which we urgently need here.”
John Williams
World Famous Composer
Laureate conductor Boston Pops
“I did not expect to walk into heaven and hear these celestial voices. The truth is, I have never felt so moved.”
Placido Domingo
World Famous Tenor
Conductor
Student Feedback
“These teachers have confidence in us that we can play these instruments, and they come from so far away too, which makes me feel special that they travel just to teach us. They believe we can learn.”
“El Sistema is the only time of the day where I feel like I can get things right.”