Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela

The Simón Bolívar Youth Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1975 by José Antonio Abreu has continuosly aimed to create new opportunities for Musical Excellence in Venezuela for the past 30 years. Heading a national system; the State Foundation for the Venezuelan System of Youth and Child Orchestras (FESNOJIV), this orchestra is comprised of over 200 young musicians between the ages of sixteen and twenty, all products of a system that is of equal social, musical and educational importance in Venezuela.

FESNOJIV involves some 135,000 musicians from across the country in a system of pre-school orchestras (4 to 6 years), over 90 children's orchestra's (7 to 16 years), over 130 youth orchestras (16 to 20 years) and over 30 professional adult symphony orchestras.

The orchestra have worked with artists such as Claudio Abbado and Sir Simon Rattle. They tour with their Music Director and colleague Gustavo Dudamel.