Mérida State Symphony Orchestra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado Mérida
Background information
Also known as	Mérida State Symphony Orchestra
Origin	Mérida, Venezuela
Genres	Classical
Years active	June 21, 1991 - present
Members	Music Director César Iván Lara
Past members	José Antonio Abreu (Founder) Amílcar Rivas (Co-founder and Artistic Director) Sergio Bernal (Music Director) Felipe Izcaray (Music Director)

The Mérida State Symphony Orchestra (in Spanish, it's called Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado Mérida or OSEM) is a group of musicians who play symphony music together. They are based in the city of Mérida, Venezuela. This orchestra is a non-profit organization, which means it doesn't aim to make money but rather to share music and culture. It was started in 1991 by a famous Venezuelan pianist and teacher named José Antonio Abreu.

A Look at the Orchestra's History

The Mérida State Symphony Orchestra was officially created on June 21, 1991. It grew from an earlier group called the Mérida State Youth Symphony Orchestra. That youth orchestra began in 1978 and was part of a bigger program. This program is known as El Sistema, or the System of Youth Orchestras of Venezuela (FESNOJIV). José Antonio Abreu, who later founded the OSEM, also led the youth orchestra.

Important Leaders and Their Contributions

The orchestra had several important leaders who helped it grow. Its co-founder and first artistic director was Amílcar Rivas. He helped shape the orchestra in its early years.

Between 1994 and 1997, Sergio Bernal was the Music Director. He helped the orchestra learn and perform many more pieces of music. These included both European and Latin American symphonic works.

From 1998 to 2001, Felipe Izcaray led the OSEM. He started important programs to connect with the community. These programs also focused on teaching people about music. They became a very important part of what the orchestra does.

Since January 2004, César Iván Lara has been the orchestra's Music Director. He continues to lead the musicians today.

Making Music and Cultural Impact

In 2006, the orchestra was very busy. It took part in many official events for the Mérida State Government. They also performed for the University of the Andes and for El Sistema. The orchestra gave 39 symphony concerts. They also performed 108 teaching and chamber concerts. These concerts took place in 21 different areas within the State of Mérida.

In 1999, the OSEM received a special honor. It was named Patrimonio Cultural del Estado Mérida. This means it was recognized as an important cultural treasure of the State of Mérida.

The orchestra celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2011. They started the year on January 15 with a special performance. They played Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 2. This concert was part of the second annual Festival de Música de Mérida.

Related pages

• Venezuelan music

See also

In Spanish: Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado Mérida para niños