New Music Director of the OSM brings his “El Sistema” experiences to Montréal
By Stephen Fogarty • January 17, 2021
Classical music in reality is far from its stereotype as a numbingly dull form of audio entertainment only suitable for people in their twilight years, nor is it a tool for social oppression, as some critical theorists would argue. This was illustrated during a recent virtual meeting I attended with the newly chosen Music Director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (OSM) as a member of their Honour Circle of major donors. Our new 40-year-old Maestro Rafael Payare described his experiences growing up in Venezuela where he fell in love with the arts, through the El Sistema method of music education. Read More