Andrés Gonzalez

Conductor and Music Director at Play on Philly, a nonprofit that provides access to quality music education to Philadelphia youth 

Nomination:

Nominated by Lisbeth Perez:
"Andres was training as a professional musician in a project in Venezuela named El Sistema. He's working now for an organization in Philadelphia called Play On Philly that was inspired by El Sistema Venezuela 10 years ago. The organization provides free tuition to almost 300 students for classical music training. The majority of these families have little or no access to this type of education due to the lack of access, or simply because they don't see themselves as being professional musicians in a symphony orchestra. Play On Philly mostly serves families of color in West Philadelphia. Unfortunately, in the States, there is not much Black and Latinx representation in the classical music world. Play on Philly is working hard to provide a better pathway to their students by having a better life through music, cultivating all the skills that a classical music training provides for success in their futures, but also in other careers through the lens of the music. Andrés is a conductor and the Music Director for Play On Philly."

About Andrés:

Andrés always felt there was no other path for him other than becoming a musician. He was introduced to classical music at a young age by his mother and father, and at three years old he had already conducted a children's orchestra. First, he was part of El Sistema's project that provides free classical music training for kids in Venezuela. Then, as an adult, he became part of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, a famous orchestra conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, an internationally recognized conductor.

El Sistema inspired the creation of similar projects in 96 countries, with 100 inspired projects located in the USA alone. One of these projects is Play on Philly, which provides free tuition on classical musical training for students beginning with pre-K through 12th grades. In addition, the project offers ten hours a week of training in musical centers located in local churches, as well as online during the COVID pandemic. 

"So, basically, what makes us different is we use the orchestra as a vehicle to improve a student's life. We're not teaching kids to be musicians in the future; we are teaching them the skills they would need to have a better life, a successful life, by teaching concentration, dedication, and patience. So we are teaching those kids to be politicians, doctors (...) in the future, but watching and seeing the work through the lens of music."

Andrés arrived in Philadelphia a few years ago with his wife and two kids to work at Play on Philly, leaving an economic and social crisis in his home country, Venezuela. Naturally, he misses his country, but he understands the importance of his work and, as a result, he is already making a priceless contribution to the city. 

Andrés' dream is to offer the project to more kids in Philadelphia. By going to their website here, you can donate and help make this wish come true.

Article by I Belong Philly. Created by Cristina Zanoni and Geórgia Consença.

Quotes from Andrés:

“We should integrate the community as part of our day to day.”

“It's very important to never say never about something, because you never know [where life will take you]”

“Everyone is trying to add a piece of themselves to Philadelphia, and that is what makes this city special”

"So, that was what made us be known in the world, because it was an orchestra from Venezuela that could play the same music that the German guys play, or the Americans, or whatever. We went with the orchestra and we could play the same music at the same, very good level." 

"We are teaching those kids to be a politicians, to be doctors in the future, by watching and seeing the work through the lens of music.”

"What makes us different is we use the orchestra as a vehicle to improve a student's life…at the very end, we're not teaching kids to be musicians in the future, but we are teaching them the skills that they would need to have a better life, a successful life with concentration, dedication, patience".

"I wish to see more Latinos in my community. I wish to see more kids from Latin America, speaking Spanish in this country. I wish to see, you know, see those people who look like me speaking Spanish in the grocery store, like what I do with my kids, and with my wife and I.