El Sistema Music Students Going to Finland

Music students in El Sistema Santa Cruz/Pajaro Valley will travel to Helsinki, Finland, to present a workshop at the 2024 International Society of Music Education Conference July 28 -Aug. 4.

They were selected from 550 entries.

“We are thrilled and honored to have been selected to represent our community at the 2024 ISME Conference,” says Camilo Ortiz, musical director of El Sistema’s pre-orchestra. “This workshop underscores our commitment to cross-cultural collaboration and the transformative power of music education.”

El Sistema, which means the system, is part of Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s Expanded Learning Opportunities program.

The workshop, titled “Melodies of Hope: The Lessons and Music of a Cross Cultural International Collaboration,” will bring together 8 students from Radcliff Elementary School, educators from El Sistema Santa Cruz/Pajaro Valley, the prestigious Sibelius Academy, and a Finnish elementary school.

Participants will explore the similarities and differences in teaching methods, language, and cultural influences, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for global music education and gaining practical strategies to enhance their own music programs.

For information about El Sistema Santa Cruz/Pajaro Valley and its participation in the 2024 ISME Conference, contact Camilo Ortiz at Camilo_ortiz@pvusd.net.

To view a video of the students playing music, see https://elsistema-sc-pajarovalley.org/