RECORDINGS

The recognition from the Latin Recording Academy highlights the artistic excellence of the Venezuelan orchestra and national talent within the framework of El Sistema's 50th anniversary.

Music made in Venezuela once again takes center stage on the international scene. The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, alongside Maestro Gustavo Dudamel, won the Latin Grammy in the category of Best Classical Album for Odyssey, a production that reaffirms the interpretive quality and global reach of one of El Sistema's most emblematic ensembles.

Following the announcement of the award, Eduardo Méndez, Executive President of El Sistema, celebrated the triumph with these words:

"This Latin GRAMMY for Best Classical Album for Odyssey is a reflection of the teachings of our Maestro Abreu, and of the work, mystique, and soul of our entire institution, which as a public policy continues to bring hope to Venezuela.

Thank you and congratulations to Maestro Gustavo Dudamel, for continuing to inspire us and pave the way. Our applause and pride go out to our Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela and to Maestros Jorge Glem, Gonzalo Grau, and Ricardo Lorenz. Thank you to Platoon and its entire great team of executives, professionals, engineers, and technicians for believing in our work.

We dedicate this triumph to every child and young person in El Sistema, to our teaching Maestros, and to all the parents, mothers, and guardians who support this beautiful life project day after day; and to everyone who supports us daily so that we can continue Playing, Singing, and Fighting; and making music for all."

The album was recorded at the renowned AIR Studios in London during the orchestra's tour in early 2025, and was released under the Platoon label in celebration of El Sistema's 50th anniversary. The production offers a sonic journey through the landscapes, rhythms, and identity of Latin America, through the encounter between the symphonic tradition and the musical roots of the region.

This distinction represents a source of pride for El Sistema, which celebrates five decades of trajectory training generations of musicians and projecting Venezuelan talent onto the world's leading stages. Likewise, it constitutes a recognition of the collective work of the musicians of the Simón Bolívar, whose artistic excellence is the result of years of training, discipline, and commitment to music.

This achievement also evokes the legacy of Maestro José Antonio Abreu, founder of El Sistema, who conceived music education as a tool for individual and collective transformation. His vision gave rise to a project that, five decades later, continues to train musicians, open doors, and bring Venezuelan talent to international stages. Through this distinction, the Latin Recording Academy recognizes the quality of the awarded production and the contribution of Venezuelan artists to the repertoire and development of contemporary classical music.

This new accolade joins a history of international distinctions achieved by the musicians and ensembles of El Sistema. In 2023, the institution won its first Latin Grammy in the category of Best Classical Album for Four Elements Immersive Symphony for Orchestra and Chorus, a work by Venezuelan flutist and composer Huáscar Barradas, recorded by the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela and the Simón Bolívar National Choir, under the direction of Ollantay Velásquez.

AIt also adds to the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra's nomination for the 2026 U.S. Grammy Awards for its performance of Maurice Ravel's Boléro, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, as well as the Maestro's own career, which includes nine Grammy Awards from the Recording Academy, earned for productions recorded alongside renowned international ensembles.