The Score | El Sistema Goes to Summer Camp

This summer, students from El Sistema programs across the U.S. will head to Colorado and New York to participate in two youth-orchestra camps in the inaugural National Take a Stand Festival. An initiative of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Longy School of Music, and Bard College, Take a Stand offers young musicians the opportunity to learn from exceptional artists and become part of a national community of musicians from underrepresented populations. Working with the musicians will be master teachers, conductors, and El Sistema faculty. At the conclusion of the first music camp (Aspen Music Festival and School, June 24-29), students will give a concert led by Robert Spano, music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Aspen Music Festival and School. At the second camp (Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, August 16-20), students will give a performance led by Leon Botstein, president of Bard College and music director of the American Symphony Orchestra. Cellist Jonathan Colon and bassist Kiana Gonzalez (in photo), from Pennsylvania’s El Sistema Lehigh Valley program, are among the musicians heading to the Bard festival in August.