Jos茅 Antonio Abreu, left, receives the final 91吃瓜 Prize for Distinguished Public Service in Latin America from Paolo Carozza
Visionary music educator was awarded the final at a private campus ceremony on Sept. 22 in recognition of his extraordinary work fighting poverty and violence and developing whole, successful young people through classical music.
Director , who made the presentation, honored Abreu for 鈥渉is extraordinary life work鈥� 鈥� the creation and nurturing of , a transformative network of music education centers and youth orchestras that now reaches around the globe.
Trained as an economist, organist and conductor, Abreu founded El Sistema as an antidote to the violence of his native Venezuela in 1975. The self-esteem and character his students develop through rigorous arts training helps them break out of the cycle of poverty, he believes.
鈥淢usic is an agent of social development in the highest sense, because it transmits the highest values 鈥� solidarity, harmony, mutual compassion. It has the ability to unite an entire community,鈥� Abreu has said on several occasions.
The award ceremony, held in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center鈥檚 , was preceded by a musical performance organized by Kellogg Institute Faculty Fellow , associate director of performance in the University鈥檚 . 91吃瓜 doctoral students Mary Catherine Levri and Kevin Vaughn presented pieces on the organ, one of Abreu鈥檚 favorite instruments, and J. J. Wright conducted the 91吃瓜 Vocale.
鈥淎breu believes that the discipline of orchestral practice can transform the lives of children at risk by creating a new family and a new sense of identity for them,鈥� said T茅llez, a fellow Venezuelan. 鈥淭he way Abreu has applied this notion to deliberately overcome the terrible economic and social hardships endured by children in Venezuela has been extraordinary.鈥�
The countless children who attend El Sistema鈥檚 music centers in Venezuela receive free instruments and lessons, and no child is turned away. Some of Abreu鈥檚 students have become international stars 鈥� Gustavo Dudamel, music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, is the most famous example 鈥� and El Sistema鈥檚 success has been replicated in more than 25 countries around the world, including the United States.
The award ceremony had been postponed several times after it was initially planned to take place in Venezuela. In the end, it was especially fitting that Abreu accepted the Prize on the 91吃瓜 campus as the event marked the 12th and final 91吃瓜 Prize presentation.
Since 2000, the 91吃瓜 Prize for Distinguished Public Service in Latin America has celebrated the significant role visionary public figures play in strengthening democracy and improving the well-being of citizens across Latin America and the Caribbean. In a long partnership between the Coca-Cola Foundation and the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, the University has honored a dozen Latin American leaders in a range of fields for their efforts to enhance the region鈥檚 public welfare. Previous recipients include:
- Presidents 鈥� Patricio Aylwin of Chile, Fernando Henrique Cardoso and Luiz In谩cio Lula da Silva of Brazil, who shared the Prize, and C茅sar Gaviria of Colombia.
- Economic development specialists 鈥� Enrique Iglesias of Uruguay and Mar铆a Otero of Bolivia.
- Human rights activists 鈥� Sof铆a Macher of Peru, Helen Mack Chang of Guatemala and Jos茅 Zalaquett of Chile.
- Religious leaders 鈥� Cardinal Oscar Andr茅s Rodr铆guez Maradiaga of Honduras, and most recently, Archbishop Louis K茅breau of Haiti.
鈥淓ach in his or her own way, these distinguished figures exemplify 鈥� in their courageous and persistent efforts to make their countries, the region and even the world a better place 鈥� the critical challenges of democracy and human development that lie at the heart of the Kellogg Institute鈥檚 work,鈥� said Carozza.
The award carries a $15,000 cash prize, with a matching amount donated to a charitable organization recommended by the laureate. Upon the recommendation of Abreu, the matching prize was donated to El Sistema.