The full name of this South American phenomenon is 'Fundación del Estado para el Sistema Nacional de las Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela' (FESNOJIV). As every region and major town in Venezuela now has its own orchestra, most people refer to it simply as 'El Sistema' or 'The Network.
In 2006 a group from the UK visited Venezuela to find out more about this remarkable musical and social movement.
Dr Richard Holloway, then Chair of the Scottish Arts Council, was one of the party. Overwhelmed by what he saw, he came home determined to bring the idea to Scotland. A charity was founded to begin work on establishing the first orchestra of its kind in the UK. As in Venezuela, an orchestra that would transform lives, and turn no child away.
A further visit was made to Venezuela in 2007, along with representative’s of the new charity’s partners, the Scottish Arts Council, BBC Scotland and Stirling Council. Talks were held about a formal partnership between FESNOJIV and the Scottish organisation.
In August 2007, the top El Sistema orchestra, the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, performed at Edinburgh International Festival. During the visit Maestro Abreu and Dr Holloway signed the historic agreement - and the new charity, by then known as Sistema Scotland, became officially part of the Sistema family.
Sistema Scotland exists to develop orchestra centres on the ground in Scotland, which are known in the community as Big Noise. The first is in Raploch, Stirling. There are currently plans for further centres across Scotland.
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