Venezuelan Children’s Symphony Orchestra performs in Rome for canonization

On the occasion of the canonization of José Gregorio Hernández and Carmen Rendiles—who will become the country’s first saints this October 19—167 children from the Venezuelan Children’s Symphony Orchestra participate this weekend in various activities in Rome.

This Saturday morning, the young people of the National Children’s Orchestra played on the Sacred Hill and then in the evening they participated in the vigil in preparation for the canonization, together with the Simón Bolívar National Choir, which was held in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

On Sunday the 19th, these Venezuelan musicians will once again demonstrate their talent with a concert on the Pincio terrace, at 6:00 pm (local time), thus closing a historic day for the country.

On Monday the 20th, Venezuelan pilgrims will participate in a thanksgiving Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and officiated by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, where the orchestra will also participate during the liturgy.

In an interview with ACI Prensa, the director of the orchestra, Andrés Ascanio, explained that there were more than 5,000 children who auditioned in Venezuela to be part of the delegation that is present today in Rome.

“Without a doubt it is a gigantic impact,” said Ascanio when asked about the mark that this experience leaves on young people. Many of them had never traveled outside the country. “It is an impact in every sense. They have the privilege and honor of coming to Rome, of coming to the Vatican within the framework of this celebration,” he commented.

The 38-year-old director pointed out that the children are aware of what canonization means for Venezuela and all of Latin America. “It’s very nice, they are extremely excited,” he said.

The orchestra participated in the first Venezuelan pilgrimage to the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, which took place this week, and Ascanio said that it marked the children’s “face of happiness and impression, amazement and deep gratitude.”

“Boys and girls, young people play their instruments for God and come closer to God through music. This, without a doubt, is a gigantic commitment, but also a wonderful blessing for all of us and for all the children of El Sistema (National Orchestras), its workers and parents and representatives, because each of these children represents their brothers from the different nuclei” of the institution, Ascanio indicated.

For the director, having the responsibility and privilege of being in charge of these children is also an opportunity to “give the most for the country and for one’s own family.” He noted that it represents a challenge and a blessing for which he is “very grateful to God and the Virgin.”

The repertoire that the National Children’s Orchestra will perform these days in Rome consists of various pieces of universal classical music and some others of Venezuelan folklore.

What is the National Orchestra System of Venezuela?

The National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela, popularly known as The Systemis a social and cultural work of the Venezuelan State.

It was conceived and founded in 1975 by the Venezuelan teacher and musician José Antonio Abreu to systematize the collective and individual instruction and practice of music through symphony orchestras and choirs, as instruments of social organization and humanistic development.

Qualified in the world as “the Venezuelan musical miracle”, more than a million young people, mostly from low-income social strata, have enjoyed learning the art, performed repertoires of classical and popular music, and have been included in a personal and collective training system in which they are instilled with social, moral and spiritual values ​​that are the fundamental reason for the program.