NORTHBROOK, Illinois - April 2009 - The Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela conducted by renowned Maestro Dudamel ended it's U.S. Tour with a sold out concert at Chicago's Symphony Center and surprise award ceremony for Countryside Montessori students. Elementary children from Countryside Montessori had attended the night-before open rehearsal, in the hopes that they would have the opportunity to present someone in the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra organization with funds they had raised to support El Sistema, a Venezuelan music-education program.

Unforgettable Experience
Following the open rehearsal, after the crowd of fans had dispersed, the students approached the stage to tell of the funds they had raised. They then had the opportunity to present their donation to both Dr. Jose Antonio Abreu (founder of El Sistema) and Maestro Gustavo Dudamel (a product of El Sistema and world renowned conductor). Touched by such generous and unexpected consideration of the El Sistema organization, Dr. Abreu invited the students back to Symphony Center the following day where they were individually honored by Dr. Abreu, Mo. Dudamel and Jesus Rodrigues, Consul General of Venezuela and invited to attend the sold-out evening performance of the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra.

Dr. Abreu, founder of El Sistema, praised the students contribution as "this is a sample of the great thing which is the United States and of how to achieve the objectives of music in the children. For that reason we invite, the students to Venezuela, where they will be received with honors."

Inspired to Help Others
The Countryside elementary students were inspired to support the El Sistema program in Venezuela after watching an informative episode aired on CBS 60 Minutes. Learning that the core idea of El Sistema consists of the formation of community-based youth orchestras by providing free instruments and tuition to children living in dangerous, poverty-stricken areas and children with disabilities, Countryside students wanted to reach out and help those children by raising money to buy instruments for them.

Starting in 2008, through a series of student planned and organized bake sales, pancake breakfasts, and school movie nights, to date, they have raised $2,512.

The story does not end here, however. A family in Caracas, Venezuela saw a story about Countryside Montessori's donation in their local Venezuelan newspaper, and immediately recognized the name of the school - both of their children had attended Countryside when the family lived in the Chicago area. This family has offered additional help for the Countryside students' efforts.

What began as a heartfelt fundraising for children thousands of miles away has brought the Countryside Montessori students closer than they ever thought they would be to this organization they sought to help. The final chapter of this story is perhaps yet to be written.

About El Sistema

El Sistema is a publicly financed voluntary sector music-education program in Venezuela, originally called Social Action for Music. In 1975, Venezuelan economist and amateur musician Jose Antonio Abreu founded Social Action for Music and became its director. He received the National Music Prize for this work in 1979.

The purpose of El Sistema is to use music for the protection of childhood through training, rehabilitation and prevention of criminal behavior. The program is known for rescuing young people in extremely impoverished circumstances from the environment of drug abuse and crime into which they would likely otherwise be drawn.

About Countryside Montessori School

Founded in 1967, Countryside Montessori (Northbrook, Illinois) has been teaching children 16 months old through 6th grade respect, responsibility and resourcefulness. Countryside's elementary curriculum includes traditional course selections designed to spark the child's imagination with awe and wonder and inspire him to learn more.

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