Sweden

The gigantic music camp Side by Side 2026, happening June 12–17 and hosted by Sweden’s Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, is now selling a limited number of tickets for its Festival and Closing Concerts this summer.

From January 7–February 6, 2026, Side by Side will accept applications for their international music camp in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Side by Side is now accepting applications for their international music camp in Gothenburg, Sweden through January 28.

Ron Davis Alvarez, Director of The Dream Orchestra in Gothenburg, Sweden, was nominated as one of the five finalists in the 2024 CNN “Heroes” contest sponsored by the United States-based multinational Cable News Network (CNN). The contest features “inspiring people who have found unique ways to help others,” and aims to elevate awareness of inspirational work by people around the world.

The Ensemble Executive Editor Patrick Scafidi recently interviewed Ron via email.

National and international youth orchestra and choir festivals instill a collaborative mindset in their participants and provide all attendees with powerful, lasting memories. But they are time-consuming to organize, requiring logistical know-how and well-considered, family-flexible safeguarding policies for the children and young people. It’s not only tiring; it’s expensive. And program leaders know firsthand that students progress with or without these national or international festivals. So why bother? What do they offer to young people that their own programs can’t provide?

My answer, in a word: perspective.

“As the world falls apart, these children unite it through music.” These are the opening remarks from El Sistema maestro Gustavo Dudamel in Side by Side’s new documentary, celebrating over ten years of collective music-making.

Congratulations to Sweden’s Dream Orchestra Young Leaders Program for being one of four winners of the 2021 Ockenden International Prize.

Registration is now open for the 2019 El Sistema Academy in Stockholm, Sweden!  The 3rd annual El Sistema Academy will take place at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm on 25-27 January 2019.