Mérida State Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Mérida State Symphony Orchestra (Spanish
: Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado Mérida or OSEM) is a symphony orchestra based in the Venezuela
n city of Mérida. A non-profit organization, it was founded in 1991 by the Venezuelan pianist and educator José Antonio Abreu
.
(FESNOJIV) and led by José Antonio Abreu
.
Its co-founder and first artistic director was Amílcar Rivas. Between 1994 and 1997, its Music Director
was Sergio Bernal who extended the orchestra's repertoire of European and Latin American symphonic music. Between 1998 and 2001, the OSEM was led by Felipe Izcaray who initiated major programs of community outreach and education which became a fundamental part of the orchestra's activities. César Iván Lara has been the orchestra's Music Director since January 2004.
In the 2006 season, the orchestra participated in many official events of the Mérida State Government, University of the Andes, the FESNOJIV, and various municipalities, giving 39 symphony concerts and 108 teaching and chamber concerts in 21 municipalities in the State of Mérida
. In 1999 the OSEM was designated a a Patrimonio Cultural del Estado Mérida (Cultural Patrimony of the State of Merida).
The orchestra began its 20th anniversary year on January 15, 2011 with a performance of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 2
for the second annual Festival de Música de Mérida.
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado Mérida or OSEM) is a symphony orchestra based in the Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n city of Mérida. A non-profit organization, it was founded in 1991 by the Venezuelan pianist and educator José Antonio Abreu
José Antonio Abreu
José Antonio Abreu is a Venezuelan pianist, economist, educator, activist, and politician.-Politics and academics:...
.
History
The orchestra was established on June 21, 1991 and evolved from the Merida State Youth Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1978 as part of the System of Youth Orchestras of VenezuelaEl Sistema
El Sistema is a publicly financed voluntary sector music education program in Venezuela, originally called Social Action for Music. Its official name is Fundación del Estado para el Sistema Nacional de las Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela, , and sometimes translated to English as...
(FESNOJIV) and led by José Antonio Abreu
José Antonio Abreu
José Antonio Abreu is a Venezuelan pianist, economist, educator, activist, and politician.-Politics and academics:...
.
Its co-founder and first artistic director was Amílcar Rivas. Between 1994 and 1997, its Music Director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
was Sergio Bernal who extended the orchestra's repertoire of European and Latin American symphonic music. Between 1998 and 2001, the OSEM was led by Felipe Izcaray who initiated major programs of community outreach and education which became a fundamental part of the orchestra's activities. César Iván Lara has been the orchestra's Music Director since January 2004.
In the 2006 season, the orchestra participated in many official events of the Mérida State Government, University of the Andes, the FESNOJIV, and various municipalities, giving 39 symphony concerts and 108 teaching and chamber concerts in 21 municipalities in the State of Mérida
Mérida (state)
Mérida State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is Mérida.Mérida State covers a total surface area of 11,300 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 843,800.- Climate and Vegetation :...
. In 1999 the OSEM was designated a a Patrimonio Cultural del Estado Mérida (Cultural Patrimony of the State of Merida).
The orchestra began its 20th anniversary year on January 15, 2011 with a performance of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 2
Symphony No. 2 (Tchaikovsky)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed his Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 17 in 1872. One of Tchaikovsky's very joyous compositions, it was successful upon its premiere; it also won the favor of the group of nationalistic Russian composers known as "The Five", led by Mily Balakirev...
for the second annual Festival de Música de Mérida.