MANU QUINTERO
Photographer

In 1975, Master Jose Antonio Abreu started in Venezuela a pedagogical program which consists of free classical music education that promotes human opportunity and development for impoverished people.

40 years later, El Sistema has transformed thousands of lives through their many programs. Their programs take place in prisons, refugee camps, remote locations, favelas and cities, giving everyone a chance to change their lives.

Sounds of Hope wants to show how much El Sistema has reached and achieved in 40 years of hard work.

Two children practice with their violin before a concert. This concert in Mariara, a very violent town in Carabobo State, is part of the "One Million Concerts" prepared for El Sistema to celebrate its 40th Anniversary. February 2015.
Andres Gonzalez, director of the National Children's Symphony of Venezuela leads his musicians in the closing concert of the Western Seminar in the Lia Bermudez Art Center in Maracaibo, Zulia State. March 2015.
The youth chorus of San Cristobal's Nucleo prepares for a public practice on the main practice room during the Western Seminar of the National Children's Symphony of Venezuela in San Cristobal, Tachira State, Venezuela. March 2015.
Members of the Youth National Choir of Venezuela prepares for a concert in Teresa Carreño Theather in Caracas, Venezuela.
A member of the logistic team of National Children's Symphony of Venezuela sits over a bunch of chairs that will be transported into a new location where the it's going to perform a public practice in Valera, Trujillo State, Venezuela. March 2015.
Relatives of National Children's Symphony of Venezuela members wait to salute his relatives after a public practice in Valera, Trujillo State, Venezuela. March 2015.
A woman with her cuatro walk trought a corridor in the San Cristobal Nucleo, Venezuela. March 2015.
Maria Negrete has been in jail for 4 years by sexual exploitation in Venezuela. She spend her days learning Cuatro. The Prison Program of el Sistema gives a chance to people like Maria to rebuild her life trought the music.
Jorge Alvarez, National Children's Symphony of Venezuela's Luthier tune a violin during a public practice in Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela. March 2015.
Jose Altuve, 8 years old, was born with five and a half months of gestation, he have a visual disability and a kind of mental retardation, plays the bells during a performance in Merida City's nucleo in Merida State. He's one of the 2800 people benefited
Cesar Moreno, an 8 years old trompetist member of the National Children's Symphony of Venezuela play his instrument during a practice in San Pedro del Rio, his hometown, during the National Children's Symphony Western Seminar. Tachira State, Venezuela. Ma
Two children, sons of a Colombian refugee couple, prepares to go to perform in a concert celebrating the international refugee's day in Achaguas, Apure State, Venezuela. June 2014.
A member of the logistic team of National Children's Symphony of Venezuela sits beside a orchestra member during a trip in the Symphony's Western Seminar, Trujillo State, Venezuela. March 2015.
Ron Davis Alvarez, founder of El Sistema in Greenland, pose for a photograph in the National Center of Social Action for Music, as knows as "La Sede" in Caracas, Venezuela. February 2015.
Children got dressed before a concert in San Antonio de los Altos, Miranda State, as part of the "One Million Concerts" prepared for El Sistema to celebrate its 40th Anniversary. February 2015.
A prisoner of the Woman Prison in Los Teques city looks through a window before a music class of the Prison Program of El Sistema.
Four guitarist talk each other after a short performance for the National Children's Symphony that was visiting Llano Grande, a remote town located in the Andes mountains, Tachira State, Venezuela. March 2015.
A violinist from the Palafitos suburb in Maracaibo city walks to a practice.
Three prisoners plays Bass and Cello during a class inside Women Prison in Los Teques city.
Musicians of Los Roques Nucleo, an atolon at 200 km from the caribbean coast, carry a trailer full of instruments through a sand street in el Gran Roque.
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