Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez officially opened the José Antonio Abreu International University of Music in the presence of diplomats, ministers and leaders of the country’s musical system. She called the institution a tribute to the memory of the founder of El Sistema, who viewed music as a space for social interaction and inclusion. The university will transform technical programs into full university degrees in performance, composition and musical instrument making. The institution will begin operating under Rector Rony Morales, with more than 520 students in its initial intake; classes will be held at 18 branches across the country.
Rodríguez emphasized that more than 1.3 million children and adolescents study in Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar National Orchestra System, which is why the authorities view music as both a right and a tool for peaceful coexistence. She also linked the university’s opening to the achievements of Venezuelan youth in other fields and announced that the second “Viva el Sistema Fest” would soon take place. At her direction, musicians are to take to the streets across the country ahead of the Christmas season. The festival will also express solidarity with those affected by the recent double earthquake and continue Venezuela’s international cultural diplomacy.
Full version: Delcy Rodríguez inaugurates the “José Antonio Abreu” University of Music