JOSE LUIS HERNANDEZ

Gustavo Dudamel, Jose Luis, and Maestro Abreu.

Throughout the history of Western music there have been times when ideas develop in such powerful ways that they stir movements or trends that have forever changed its course or how we think about the art form. In the later part of the 20th century emerged a thinker from Venezuela who established a grand mission with the belief that the systematic practice of classical music could enhance the wellbeing of entire communities of people, even nations. Maestro Jose Antonio Abreu dreamed that the poor children of a struggling country could be uplifted and dignified through the opportunities that only music could afford them. This was a near-impossible dream as there was hardly a tradition of music education in place in his country—it had to be invented. On the first rehearsal, he summoned his orchestra and told them that they would become one of the greatest in the world. It came true. Today, some 400,000 students take part in his program and it is beginning to grow outside of Venezuela with inspired initiatives blooming everywhere there is a will and hope that music can change lives. “For many of the children that we work with, music is practically the only way to a dignified social destiny. Poverty means loneliness, sadness, anonymity. An orchestra means joy, motivation, teamwork, the aspiration to success. It is a big family which is dedicated to harmony, to those beautiful things which only music brings to human beings,” says Abreu.

In 2009, Maestro Abreu was awarded the TED Prize (Technology, Education, and Design) in the United States—an opportunity that afforded him a special wish. To create and document a special training program for at least 50 gifted young musicians, passionate for their art and for social justice, and dedicated to developing El Sistema in the US and in other countries.” This wish was quickly embraced by the forward thinking New England Conservatory of Music in Boston with the goal of helping grow El Sistema in the United States and around the world as it is the hope of Maestro Abreu to create a global system of children and youth orchestras so as to give the future generations the best opportunities of personal and social progress. 

Over the past 5 years, 50 Fellows have graduated from the Sistema Fellows program. At this point in the movement, they are widely considered to be among the leaders in the field because of their collective impact, specialized training (including guided residencies throughout Venezuela), and their ability to put their ideas into action. While people and institutions throughout the country are building and running programs, the Fellows are also uniquely positioned to investigate, reflect, and ultimately contribute to the field by leveraging the resources of the Fellowship toward supporting programs and creating new knowledge. As the dedicated learners of the field, the Sistema Fellows initially spent 10 months to explore the field in the United States and in other countries, to study it, reflect upon it, and ultimately synthesize the learning and skills of that time into substantial contributions. Deeply moved from his time in Venezuela, Jose Luis wrote in the TED Prize blog that “El Sistema has effectively fashioned persuasive paradigms for the rationale and purpose of art.” “Music is never seen as a luxury, but rather as a natural extension of life.” Indeed, Jose Luis, like his colleagues, is inspired by Abreu’s realization of music as an instrument for social change and committed to helping extend opportunities so that communities can experience the deep spiritual affluence that emanates from the exercise of music. In Venezuela he also heard Abreu refer to El Sistema as a “project of shared dreams.” And this is where the strength and magnitude of its beauty lies. There is a place and role for everyone who believes in the power of its mission. 

Jose Luis first became a part of the El Sistema movement in 2009 when he was invited to participate as a founding music director for a national nucleos initiative in Mexico led by the Sistema Nacional de Fomento Musical. He chose his hometown of Reynosa, Mexico as the place to first serve—a city just south of the United States border. There, he helped organize and lead a program that served over 300 students in orchestral and choral programs during its inaugural year. During that time, he built an international support network and participated in the earliest public forums on El Sistema outside of Venezuela, including the inaugural LA Philharmonic symposium, “Composing Change.” 
 
Since joining the third cohort of Sistema Fellows, Jose Luis has collaborated with his NEC colleagues through the sharing experiences, ideas, and expertise to grow Sistema programs across the US and beyond. In Oklahoma City, he led the development of a 100 student flagship núcleo and collective impact partnership for El Sistema Oklahoma. He often mentors fellow leaders in the El Sistema philosophies and taught the first college level course on the subject of social action through music. He has nurtured artistic collaborations with Sistema-inspired programs in the US and is currently working as founding Director for Sistema Tulsa, a program of the Boston Avenue United Methodist Church in concert with community partners, including the Tulsa Public Schools. 
 
He has traveled extensively with El Sistema to Europe and Latin America as an ambassador to the program's ideals and also published a book entitled, "Aesthetics of Generosity: El Sistema, Music Education, and Social Change” as an opportunity to share his Fellowship experience and inspire educators who seek to enact social change through music. He has also been engaged as a speaker and consultant with organizations ranging from professional organizations to local community foundations and is interested in helping integrate perspectives from the current body of knowledge in learning, creativity, and education into the fabric of Sistema-inspired endeavors.
 
As the El Sistema movement has grown steadily throughout the world in the past few years, Jose Luis has also grown as a musician and leader all while helping shape new futures and working towards bringing music at the heart of communities and advancing the good work of education everywhere he goes. He takes to heart the Maestro’s aphorism of ser y no ser todavía which translates as being and not yet being. In other words, a call to envisioning oneself as an unfinished product, always striving towards finding the paths toward hope and aliveness through the many experiences that life brings. For his contributions to the work of social action through music, Maestro Abreu has called Jose Luis “one of the most lucid interpreters of El Sistema” and personally invited him to serve as permanent guest conductor of orchestras in Venezuela. “ I feel very lucky, says Jose Luis, for the opportunity to be a part of Abreu’s shared dream of El Sistema.” “And hope to continue to help make the case for education as the great motivator of thriving societies.” 
 

Leading the Oklahoma based Sistema-inspired orchestra at Oklahoma City University, 2013.