Of the many quotes of the eminently quotable British Statesman Sir Winston Churchill, the one that seems to have the most currency today is his statement that “Democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried.” This wry cynicism may be attributable to Churchill’s personal view of Democracy, … Continue reading A little less conversation, a little more…
Biography
The Baltimore conference organizers asked me to put my money where my mouth is. Challenge accepted.
On the drive back from the Reframing El Sistema conference in Baltimore, my students and I stopped for pie in Washington DC. Over a very delicious and savoury slice of steak and chile (really) I took the opportunity to ask a freshman cellist what she had thought of the conference. Her response was brutal: “I … Continue reading When Sistema isn’t as easy as pie
The future of classical music is not dependent on 20 seconds of screen time at the Super Bowl. It’s in the hands of the certified music educators around the nation who live and labour under increasingly difficult circumstances to make music a part of their students’ lives.
From Mark Swed’s hogshead overflowing with champagne to Gabriela Montero’s dry shot glass, there’s been plenty of disagreement over both the size of the vessel and the extent to which it was filled by YOLA’s appearance in the Super Bowl
If pressed to answer the question “Why Sistema?”, I think there are only two legitimate answers
An investigation into "Social Action through Music" produces some unexpected - and oftentimes uncomfortable - results.
What do Microsoft and Venezuela have in common?
If you don't like the politicization of El Sistema in Venezuela, there is something you can do about it.
Jonathan Andrew Govias 