Gather Together

 
The Ensemble seeks to connect and inform all people who are committed to ensemble music education for youth empowerment and social change.

BRAVO Families Affected by ICE Abductions

10-01-2025

On September 16, an ICE sweep in North Portland, Oregon, USA resulted in the abduction of several family members of BRAVO Youth Orchestras students, including Rafael Arriola Caballero, a father of six and resident of North Portland for over a decade.

EUYO Hosts Free Online Symposium for Ensemble Managers

10-01-2025

The European Union Youth Orchestra will host their annual Model Sharing Symposium on October 13–17.

Big Noise Trains Students at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

10-01-2025

In 2018, Big Noise developed a module for undergraduate students with staff at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

El Sistema Oman Launching This Fall

09-03-2025

A new Sistema program is coming to Oman this fall.

Music Offers Hope to Young Musicians in Gaza

09-03-2025

In this Reuters special report, young people in Gaza share how music offers them hope and eases their fears in the midst of war.

New Guiding Pillars Amplify Our Collective Voice

09-03-2025

Nearly two decades ago, a handful of United States programs that were inspired by El Sistema in Venezuela opened their doors. Since then, El Sistema USA® has become a network of more than 150 organizations—the largest such network in the world. Our members represent a diverse array of music programs from dozens of states, as well as international programs in adjacent countries from Canada to Haiti. Given the diversity and breadth of our network, it’s reasonable to ask: What is the common thread between these programs? And why does this collective work matter? Watching and helping this coalition grow and evolve, we have been able to isolate a few distinct qualities that unite us and affirm the power of our collective voice.

Teacher Learning through the Spark of Action Research

09-03-2025

How can I contribute to making something that’s already great even better?

That was the question I asked myself when I took on the challenge of carrying out the first Academy for Impact Through Music (AIM) Chispa, in Caracas, Venezuela, in December 2024.

 

Can Young Children Learn to Identify Harmonic Progressions by Ear? Yes, They Can!

09-03-2025

Unfortunately, many music teachers rely on a notation-first approach, teaching students to read music symbols before they have a strong foundation in listening, singing, and rhythmic chanting. Because we jumped the notation hurdle, often relying on math and puzzle-solving skills in addition to our propensity for learning music, we sometimes assume (incorrectly) that most children will have the same capacities.

The principles of MLT guided my teaching at OrchKids (the El Sistema-inspired program in Baltimore, MD, USA), and the results were extraordinary.

Beyond Music Releases Fourth Album of Songs for Social Change

09-03-2025

Beyond Music, a global organization uniting musicians from all cultural backgrounds through collaborative projects, just released their fourth volume of songs for social change.

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