Wow! We just listened to Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 Movement 5 conducted by Gustavo Dudamel and the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra on YouTube.  (Video is embedded at the end of this post.)

The soloists and several musicians were moved to tears.  I was delighted to experience this joyful music — delivered by ever increasing intensity and vitality — unleashing waves of enthusiastic applause and a standing ovation.

YouTube Audience comments…

This is a monumental achievement and listening to this will make your soul grow wings!!  PringlesJingles  5 days ago

DUDAMEL’S GENIUS AND INTENSITY HAS SPOILED ME FOREVER ON THIS PIECE – CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO IT – THANKS SOOOO MUCH FOR POSTING !!!  chpnlszt   2 weeks ago

“Our Tradition is The New“ … Gustavo Dudamel

Over the Easter weekend, my interest increased as I discovered more pieces to this amazing puzzle.  How is it that a young man born in a humble Venezuelan family — grows up to become a director of three orchestras on three contents — and brings hope to millions?

Dynamic conductor Gustavo Dudamel’s passionate music making invigorates audiences of all ages worldwide. Concurrently serving as Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, the impact of his musical leadership is felt on three continents. – Read more from his website: www.gustavodudamel.com

Astonishing the music world, Deborah Borda, President of the Los Angeles Philharmonic hired Gustavo Dudamel to be their next music director.  She poignantly states in a 60 Minutes interview: 

I think that the atmosphere exists here for him to change musical history.  Gustavo has an ability to communicate what is passionate and vital about music in a very 21st Century way.  – Deborah Borda

You may enjoy this thirteen minute segment from 60 Minutes video on Mr. Dudamel. One segment I especially love, is where he is guest conducting the Vienna Philharmonic.  Many of the musicians could be his grandparents, and he chides them for playing mundanely like simply saying “you know, I love you and I want to kiss you” — NO! instead he explained, “you need to whisper “I love you” into her (or his) ear and she will nuzzle you back and say Yes and then you really need to convince her to go to the altar.”  The performance was a triumphant, even bringing the taciturn Swiss to their feet. See it here.

“Music Is a Fundamental Right of Everyone!” … Gustavo Dudamel

El Sistema is a Venzuelan music program that provides opportunities for almost a quarter million poor children to play a musical instrument. These children play in hundreds of youth orchestras throughout the country.  This is a profound social movement providing hope instead of despair.

Now Gustavo Dudamel works with the LA Philharmonic to provide:

Youth Orchestra LA (YOLA) program – inspired by Venezuela’s revolutionary El Sistema – the LA Phil and its community partners provide free instruments, intensive music training, and academic support to students from underserved neighborhoods, enabling every child to contribute using their full potential. – Read more from the LA Philharmonic website: www.laphil.com

From Scotland:

Transforming Lives with Music – Big Noise is an orchestra programme that aims to use music making to foster confidence, teamwork, pride and aspiration in the children taking part – and across their wider community. It is based on the methods of Venezuela’s “El Sistema” movement and is run by the charity Sistema Scotland. Read more from www.makebignoise.org.uk

Illuminspire

After listening to several online interviews of Mr. Dudamel, I was inspired by his genuine and enthusiastic self expression.  The eternal spring of HOPE — anything is possible, just make it so — work diligently with your talents and see what will come!

And so, being an artist, I located the picture you see above: Fireworks in New York Harbor on the 4th of July as the best representation of a shared joyous experience within a community (inspired part of this website).  And then the challenge — to take a black and white photograph at night and transform it into a website masthead.  Illumination is a yellow color and enthusiasm is a rosy hue, balanced by white hope (the illumined part of the site).  And my husband, the music lover and word smith, coined the website name: Illuminspire!

Listen now to the music that is the fruit of a community-wide system that provides opportunities for young people to play music instead of joining gangs.  May you, too be inspired by Gustavo Dudamel’s vitality and vevre!