If you are concerned about the future of youth orchestral music, this video would be great to watch.

Here’s what one person who has who recently went to a concert said (he’s worked in symphony management for years):

Are you familiar with the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela?  I just saw the orchestra in San Francisco and it was like going to a sports event…it was the most exciting concerts I’ve been to in years.  The conductor is the new Music Director of the LA Philharmonic.  He’s 25 years old.

The clip is one of their encores.  They played several encores.  Then the lights went out and it seemed like a mistake.  When the lights came back on, the orchestra were wearing jackets with the colors of the Venezuelan flag (as in this video) and they did several more encores.

250,000 youth play in orchestras in Venezuela.  Every student who is 17 is required to teach an 8 or 9 year-old.  They use classical music to rehabilitate kids, and require everyone who plays an instrument to be in an ensemble (even if they just listen).