El Sistema Greece Youth Orchestra

El Sistema Greece Youth Orchestra was founded in November 2017 and is an intercultural educational orchestra based on the principles and teaching practices of El Sistema Venezuela. The orchestra is open to musicians 8-26 years old who already play an instrument, regardless of their origin, language or religion, and rehearsals to date take place every Saturday from 16.00-19.00 at Malliaras School (Erechtheiou 6, Alimos), with free transportation of the musicians from three different points of Attica (Penteli, Syntagma, Piraeus) and Corinth.

The aim of the orchestra is to promote maximum social integration of all its members, to enhance safe and meaningful communication between young people from diverse social backgrounds and to provide high quality music education. Using music as a tool for expression and communication, El Sistema Greece Youth Orchestra has managed to unite young musicians from more than 30 different countries around the world. It is the only ESG orchestral ensemble that welcomes members not only from ESG students but also children and young people who are studying music in conservatories or music schools, further enhancing the diversity of the ensemble and facilitating access to it.

The orchestra is currently conducted by the talented conductor Kyriaki Kountouri. Through their participation in the ESGYO, the young musicians develop additional musical skills, thanks to the guidance of excellent teachers, prepare for their participation in professional orchestras, experience from a very young age the experience of participating in major concerts in the most important music venues of the country (Odeon of Herodus Atticus, SNFCC, Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall, Thessaloniki Concert Hall, etc. At the same time, thanks to the international connections of our organization, they collaborate with internationally renowned soloists and musical ensembles that often visit us (Joyce DiDonato, Il Pomo d’Oro, Maîtrise de Radio France, Simón Bolívar Trumpet Ensemble, Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, etc.) and participate in music workshops and academies with great musicians and conductors in Greece and abroad. The orchestra usually performs 2 or 3 major concerts in full development (at Christmas at the SNFCC, in the summer in open theatres such as the Odeon of Herodus Atticus, and in the spring – usually in partnership with a major professional orchestra such as ERT) but members of the orchestra also form smaller ensembles for additional performances and participation in events of other institutions.