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El Sistema USA is organizing a collaborative video project with Member programs nationwide who are performing the “Somewhere” repertoire gifted to El Sistema USA by Jamie Bernstein.

A Message from Jamie Bernstein:
August 25th, 2018, is the 100th birthday commemoration of my father, the composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. In honor of his lifelong devotion to sharing the joy of music with young people, and to continue my own enthusiastic support of youth ensembles for social change in the U.S., I’ve cooked up a birthday present to my dad which is also a present to our country’s young musicians, and their audiences.

In collaboration with El Sistema USA, the Leonard Bernstein Office, and Hal Leonard, developed a special arrangement of the song “Somewhere” from my father’s beloved musical, West Side Story — offered at no cost to every Sistema-inspired youth ensemble and chorus across the country. The upward-reaching intervals in this anthemic song, combined with Stephen Sondheim’s stirring lyrics, together express our deepest longing for a world in which all its peoples live together in harmony, safety, and peace. No song could be more appropriate for El Sistema-inspired ensembles, with their passion for social justice.

With all my best wishes to our young musicians across the country,
Jamie Bernstein

 Programs known to be participating currently include:

B Sharp Youth Music

December, 2018

Watch this video

Chicago Metamorphosis Project / ChiMOP

May 18th, 2018

CHIME

June 3rd and August 17, 2018

CHIME with Kids 4 Harmony

High Peaks Festival, August 14th, 2018

El Sistema Colorado

Fall 2018

El Sistema New Jersey Alliance (four programs with NJSO)

April 22nd, 2018

Watch this Video

Kennedy Center (Arts Summit)

April 16, 2018

Watch this video

Kidznotes

May 4th, 2018

Watch this video

Enriching Lives Through Music (ELM)

April 28th

Watch this video

Midwest Seminario / Goshen, IN

Summer, 2018

Play on Philly Symphony Orchestra (POPSO)

April 22nd, 2018

Watch this Video

Salty Cricket – MAYBE with Utah Symphony

November 15th, 2018

Sistema Tulsa

May 11, 2018

Union City Music Project

June, 2018

Young Musician Initiative

November, 2018

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