Become an Abreu Fellow and use your art to change the world!
The Abreu Fellows Program seeks highly skilled post-graduate musicians, inspired by the El Sistema phenomenon, whose passions are leading them to devote themselves to a life of musical service to underserved or at-risk children and communities.
An Abreu Fellow will have:
- profound belief in the power of intensive, joy-filled music learning to change lives
- strong leadership potentia
- exemplary music performance ability
- excellent natural communication skills
- completed higher education study in his/her major instrument or music specialty
- notable success in teaching
- experience working or interning in music or arts programs for underserved or at-risk children and youth
- complete comfort with modern electronic communication, networking and information delivery
In addition to the qualities described above, Fellows will also be chosen for the atypical attributes that they can bring to the el Sistema USA program, so all who desire training are welcome to apply.
How to apply:
Those interested in applying can find a detailed description of the Abreu Fellows Program curriculum here. [link to Abreu Fellows Program > Curriculum page] Complete application materials are available here. [link to application materials on NEC site – link TBC**]
Note that this is a postgraduate program. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required, master’s degree preferred. Ideally, applicants’ educational background will include training in teaching, outreach, presentation skills, entrepreneurship and management, in addition to work experience in music/social change initiatives, arts-in-education, community collaborations and partnerships, or related activities.
This is a tuition-free program. However, if an accepted applicant receives a “named fellowship” from a sponsoring organization, he/she will be committed to work on behalf of the sponsoring organization following completion of the Abreu Fellows Program.
Please note that a candidate who applies to the Abreu Fellows Program with financial backing from a sponsoring organization is not guaranteed a spot in the Abreu Fellows Program. Regardless of financial backing, each applicant must compete against the complete pool of applicants to the Abreu Fellows Program.
If an applicant with financial backing from a sponsoring organization is accepted to the program, it will be expected that both parties (the applicant and the sponsoring organization) sign a letter of agreement that confirms the applicant’s commitment to work on behalf of the sponsoring organization for a period of at least one year.
