“Reminds us of how arts education can change lives.” —Gary Stager,
Huffington Post
In this “vivid story” (
Economist
), Tricia Tunstall “chronicles the origins and growth of Venezuela’s acclaimed El Sistema national music education program” (Reed Johnson,
Los Angeles Times
) and illustrates its overarching goal: to rescue children from the depredations of poverty through music. What began in Venezuela has extended to Los Angeles, New York City, and Baltimore, illustrating that El Sistema is not just a program, it’s a movement. Combining firsthand interviews with compelling stories,
Changing Lives
reveals that arts education can indeed effect positive social change in the United States and around the world.