In His Words: Ron Davis Alvarez, Founder/Director, The Dream Orchestra

 
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In His Words: Ron Davis Alvarez, Founder/Director, The Dream Orchestra

Ron Davis Alvarez, in conversation with The Ensemble

12-11-2024

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 final round of judging was open to all and was conducted via an online viewer vote conducted on CNNHeroes.com. You can watch CNN’s short video about Ron here.

Ron founded this project in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2016 with the help of a generous and diverse group of Swedish and international stakeholders who have accompanied him along this journey. Among them are the members of Dream Orchestra’s board who are representatives of Gothenburg University, the Gothenburg press community, the Swedish Ecumenical Church, and the Gothenburg Concert Hall.

The Ensemble Executive Editor Patrick Scafidi recently interviewed Ron via email. Here are his answers, edited for concision.

TE: How has life been for you since the announcement? How about for the Dream Orchestra staff and students?

The recognition from CNN Heroes has indeed changed our trajectory, offering us a unique platform to showcase the transformative work we’re doing. It provides visibility for our efforts, amplifies our mission, and gives us a way to inspire others around the world. For Dream Orchestra, this moment is not just about us; it’s about sharing our story so that others can see how music can heal, unite, and help to create communities.

For our students, staff, and volunteers, this recognition has strengthened our resolve to continue building a community where music is a pathway for social change. The work we do, the relationships we build, and the dreams of our students are now visible to the world—and that opens new doors for everyone.

What do you hope is the main surprising thing that people outside the field will learn about our field in general, and about the Dream Orchestra in particular?

We hope people will come to realize that music is not a luxury or a separate social realm. It is a universal language that unites, heals, and empowers. Through Dream Orchestra, we hope to show how the arts can be deeply embedded in global solutions; they can help build stronger, more inclusive societies and address global challenges like peacebuilding, social equity, and environmental sustainability.

People may be surprised to learn that projects like this are about more than teaching refugees and young people to play instruments—they are also about helping them realize their potential to be leaders and agents of change. Such programs can be foundational elements of a better future for us all.

After all, learning to play music together involves learning empathy, communication, collaboration, and resilience. These are the very qualities we need to tackle issues like climate change, health, and global peace. Music provides the foundation for creative problem and solving and unites us across cultural, social, and political divides.

The Dream Orchestra is living proof of this transformative capacity of music. Our students, teachers, and volunteers work together both to create beautiful sounds and to make an impact in their communities.

How has the Dream Orchestra evolved and changed since you started it? Have the students changed at all—their music choices, their ambitions, their needs?

The Dream Orchestra. Photo credit: Tatsiana Avakyan

We began with a small group of immigrant young people from Afghanistan, Syria, Eritrea, and elsewhere, in the Gothenburg neighborhood of Angered. Even then, our mission was clear: to use music as a tool for personal growth and social change. Today, we have become a thriving community where students, teachers, and volunteers from more than 25 countries and speaking 20 different languages work together toward a common purpose: using music to create a better world.

Our students, many of whom have been with us for all of those eight years, have changed profoundly. Many still aspire to be musicians, but, in addition, all of them see themselves as leaders and changemakers who can use their talents to positively impact their communities. Their musical choices reflect a deep understanding of the power they hold, and their ambitions go beyond mastering an instrument. They want to contribute to a broader vision of social transformation.

This evolution has also been shaped by my own life experiences. My original inspiration came from Maestro José Antonio Abreu and El Sistema in Venezuela, where I first had the experience of directing a núcleo. I went on to launch and develop similar programs in Greenland and in the Middle East, and to work with students and teachers in 37 countries across the world. In all these places, I witnessed firsthand how music can serve as a bridge across cultures and can heal divisions, build communities, and empower young people. Personally, I have been greatly inspired by mentors like Ann Andreasen in Greenland, whose work has deeply influenced me.

What is your vision for the future?

Looking ahead, our vision is to expand Dream Orchestra into a Learning Center that serves as a model for similar programs worldwide. I am committed to sharing what we’ve learned and to helping others build programs that use music to foster collective growth. We want Dream Orchestra to be part of a global network where music is both a wellspring of personal joy and a catalyst for social transformation.

Ann Andreasen, CNN Heroes, collective growth, Community Building, creative problem solving, cultural unity, December 2024, Dream Orchestra, El Sistema, environmental sustainability, global impact, global solutions, Gothenburg Sweden, immigrant youth empowerment, inspiring people, International Collaboration, Jose Antonio Abreu, leadership development, music and empathy, music as a universal language, Music Education, peacebuilding, refugee youth programs, Ron Davis Álvarez, social change through music, social equity, transformative music programs

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