Sinfonía por el Perú was created in 2011 by tenor Juan Diego Flórez inspired by Venezuela’s El Sistema, a system or orchestras that seeks to teach children in vulnerable conditions music, teamwork, empathy and self-esteem.
In Peru, the results are: “a 75% decrease in unwanted pregnancies, another 51% decrease in domestic violence as well as a significant increase in grades and even college admissions”, Americas Quarterly said.
The idea to start Sinfonía por El Perú began in 2009 when Flórez visited Venezuela to perform with the conductor Gustavo Dudamel. “Venezuela’s El Sistema was an internationally acclaimed program known to have helped children from environments of crime and drug abuse since its creation in 1975”, the aforementioned website said.
According to Flórez he was very captivated by the experience that he decided to replicate it in Peru, believing that music can transform societies and children.
“Unlike El Sistema, which is fully run by the Venezuelan government, Sinfonía por el Perú is funded by multiple organizations including the Inter-American Development Bank – which helped launch the program – as well as European funds and Peruvian companies, Americas Quarterly wrote.
