SEATTLE — An inspirational story of music in poverty started with Venezuela’s Jose Antonio Abreu, an accomplished musician, who planned to start a new youth orchestra out of his garage. A donation of 50 music stands was given for the use of 100 boys in the first rehearsal. However, when Abreu arrived at the rehearsal, only 11 boys came. He thought to himself, “Do I close the program or multiply these kids?”, and he promised the 11 children that one day their orchestra would be one of the best in the world. In 1977, their orchestra won an international competition…
HUMANITY, POLITICS & YOU