On Thursday, March 29, Carleton University conferred an Honorary Doctorate, honoris causa, upon DR. JOSÉ ANTONIO ABREU, for his “outstanding contribution to the advancement of underprivileged youth through music and education.”
Below is the English translation of Dr. Abreus acceptance speech:
My heart overflows with joy today, and while I may not personally merit such an honour, it is my duty to accept this Doctorate, honoris causa, conferred upon me by the illustrious Carleton University, on behalf of all of the distinguished Venezuelan artists and educators who, for forty years, have joined me with selfless and admirable solidarity in creating and developing the Venezuelan National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras and Choirs.
“El Sistema” incorporates 400,000 children of middle to low income, from every province of our country. At a very early age, these children are dignified by assuming the glorious condition of the artist. The active presence of Canada in every exchange of a pedagogical, social or artistic nature with Venezuela has always inspired our deepest gratitude. On this important occasion, I want to express, with great emotion, my most profound gratitude to your most esteemed President and Vice-Chancellor, Roseann Runte, to your esteemed Chancellor Charles Chi, and to all of the honourable members of the Board of Governors of this illustrious university.
Through our system of orchestras and choirs for children and youth, Venezuela vigorously promotes the rescue and increasing social development of thousands of young people from the most vulnerable segments of the population, including children and adolescents on the streets, those suffering from severe physical challenges, children in the public primary schools, and children and adolescents from areas marked by extreme poverty. For this reason, the United Nations has qualified our project as one of Venezuela’s most successful contributions to the crusade against serious poverty. Similarly, the Inter- American Development Bank has proclaimed it their flagship project in their agenda for Social Inclusion and Community Integration. Eventually, public spaces all over Venezuela, plazas, theatres, schools, churches and parks became literally overrun by the creative flourishing of youth and children’s orchestras and choirs. The art of music is no longer a luxury. If musical activity is embraced in everyday life, then a child can play the clarinet at home in front of his siblings and the neighborhood children, and another the violin at his father’s carpentry shop, while others can showcase their skills and achievements in recitals and concerts before the neighborhood, the school, the community of artisans and the fishermen’s village. In Venezuela, we encounter art not only in museums and concert halls, but also in people and in everyday things, in our battle against the perverse use of free time, and against drugs and violence. Material poverty begins to be vanquished by that immense spiritual wealth that germinates within and because of music.
Back in October of 2009, when we had the honour of visiting Canada for an unforgettable concert tour, conducted by the eminent young Venezuelan Maestro Gustavo Dudamel, we were able to vigorously strengthen the existing fraternal bonds between the musical youth of our countries. On that memorable occasion we were splendidly received and looked after by the Glenn Gould Foundation and by the honourable gentlemen Glenn Morley and Brian Levine, in particular, whom I embrace with affection. Equally, I send my warmest greetings to Tina Fedeski and Margaret Tobolowska, who, through the Leading Note Foundation, provide free musical instruction to more than 230 children from some of Ottawa’s most vulnerable families.
I interpret this Doctorate, honoris causa, as a new gesture from Carleton University toward the new musical generation of Canada and the Americas. I am certain that such an illustrious institution will know how to continue to find modern proposals and initiatives of great pedagogical, social and artistic significance within the field of musical art. In so doing, Carleton University can count on my humble support, as well as the affection and enthusiasm of our entire Venezuelan musical movement.
Ladies and Gentlemen: In culture lies our essential soul and profound identity. Let us work tirelessly for a musical education that is emphatically oriented toward the training, rehabilitation, and rescue of the children and youth in our society who have limited resources, especially those from our communities that are at risk of exclusion. The extent to which we are able to introduce our children, youth, and all citizens to the fascinating enterprise of innovation, creativity and education through and for the Arts, will determine the quality and dignity of our future, and the very possibility of honouring and living up to the immense challenge of being and living with dignity, in peace, justice and freedom. With God’s help, may we all strive to assure that in our lives, labours and struggles, we never betray so noble an ideal.
Dr. José Antonio Abreu
Caracas, Venezuela
March 26, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012 in Speeches
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