The first director of an attempt to replicate in Scotland a revolutionary South American music project has said it may take 10 years for it to reach fruition.
Nicola Killean, a young musician and teacher and former head of Youth Music UK in Scotland, has been appointed as the director and chief executive of the Scottish Venezuela Project, which she hopes will "create a generation of Scottish children who will have the chance to dream".
Ms Killean, 27, who trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow before working as a music teacher and cultural co- ordinator in South Lanarkshire, is now to follow in the footsteps of revered maestro Joe Antonio Abreu, the instigator of "El Sistema" in Venezuela.
Over more than 30 years his system of youth orchestras have given free instruments, musical training and "a sense of hope and accomplishment" to more than 400,000 children from the slums, or barrios, of the oil-rich but economically divided state. Now his intensive music tuition system is being brought to Scotland and Dr Richard Holloway, the project's chairman, believes it can help transform the lives of the most deprived and excluded children in Scotland.
In Venezuela, despite its concentration on classical music, it is regarded as primarily a social project aimed at bringing the discipline of relentless learning as well as joy and a sense of achievement to children and young people.
Ms Killean visited Caracas last month and was moved and inspired by the various youth orchestras she saw there.
She is now organising how to provide free instruments, tutors, and classes to the first Scottish pilot, in the Raploch area of Stirling.
It is believed other local authorities, in particular Aberdeen and Glasgow, are also interested in setting up the scheme in some of their most deprived neighbourhoods.
"When I first heard about El Sistema being brought to Scotland, I admit I was sceptical," she said, "but that was probably because I did not understand it. Having seen it now, I think its impact is absolutely unbelievable and I understand why classical, orchestral music is such a key part of it.
"It allows the children to work in groups and then be part of this big sound, a sound where everyone has their place. What I took from my trip to Venezuala was hope - hope that if you work really hard enough on something like El Sistema, it can make a difference."
She added: "I think it will take at least 10 years to see the fruits of its success but as far as I am concerned we are in this for the long term.
"I think it is something that can give children, whatever their background, wherever they live, whatever their parents do, the chance to dream."
One board member said it was hoped the system in Scotland could grow "by 100% every year" so that dozens and dozens of youth orchestras were established.
The official launch of the scheme is in Edinburgh next month, when the Simon Bolivar Orchestra from Venezuela is due to perform at the Edinburgh International Festival.
The intensive style of learning has borne fruit in Venezuela, with rising stars such as 24-year-old maestro Gustavo Dudamel, who performed at the Proms in London and is now a conductor at the LA Philharmonic.
It employs around 15,000 music teachers, and includes schools for instrument-making and training in arts administration and recording technology.
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