El Sistema/First Notes partnership with CTB

Venezuela is the home of El Sistema, the world famous classical music program for Venezuelan children, most of whom come from disadvantaged homes. An astounding 300,000 youths are part of the program in the home country, and there are 300 youth orchestras, 3 of which tour the world.  In November, Ceil Folz, the amazing director of the Vail Valley Foundation (VVF), approached CTB Artistic Director Tracy Straus about having CTB work with VVF to lend expertise on their local El Sistema program, known as First Notes, and deliver teaching techniques that work miracles with teaching arts to children. This initial conversation led to many more conversations, and ended in Tony Kieraldo, CTB Musical Director, and Tracy voyaging to Caracas together to learn about the magic of El Sistema.

Tony and Tracy flew to Caracas for Thanksgiving break and were treated to an invaluable peek at El Sistema while being housed in the most beautiful home of their incredibly generous hosts, Gonzalo and Daniela Rodriguez Bedoni (Dani).  After a daily ritual of Spanish classes followed by fresh mango juice and the tastiest empanadas ever, Dani drove them to three "nucleos": Montalban, La Ringconada and Los Chorros. In these packed days Tracy and Tony saw thousands of Venezuelans, ages 2 -18, learning and creating extraordinary classical orchestral music.  They enjoyed seeing string sectional rehearsals (violins, violas, cellos), full string rehearsals, full wind ensembles, brass sectionals, percussion rehearsals, a "tres" (bass ukulele) ensemble, a group of around 50 beginners learning rhythm and singing, 2 year olds singing songs with their parents, a full orchestra rehearsal, a 2 year old practicing conducting, and a magnificent dress rehearsal of Leonard's orchestra at Los Chorros. Leonard is a product of El Sistema, and has been featured on the 60 Minutes presentation about this astounding program.  They also visited El Sistema’s stunning state of the art performance and rehearsal building in the center of Caracas.

Back in Vail in December, Tony and Tracy began working with VVF and the affiliate El Sistema program called First Notes teachers to bring the best possible program to the children of the Vail Valley. This is a very promising beginning to what should be a long lasting partnership designed to continue transforming children’s lives through the arts in Eagle County.  CTB is thrilled to be joining forces with VVF on yet another incredible project.