Abreu and Dudamel to be Honored by Musical America

On November 6, Musical America Worldwide announced that it would name Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel "Musician of the Year" and the founder of "El Sistema," José Antonio Abreu, "Educator of the Year" for 2013. The Musical America Awards, sponsored by Deutsche Grammophon, recognize artistic excellence and achievement in the arts. The award ceremony will take place tonight, at 6 pm, at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.

A press release by Musical America states: "In eight short years, 31-year-old Gustavo Dudamel has become more in demand than any conductor in the world. He is a household name in Los Angeles, where he is music director of the Philharmonic. He is mobbed in Berlin, Vienna, Milan, London, and Caracas, Venezuela, where he is one of his country's best-known and well-loved celebrities. Often compared to Leonard Bernstein, Dudamel shares the American conductor's charisma, tireless advocacy for music education, and expressive music-making."
Regarding maestro José Antonio Abreu, Musical America writes: "José Antonio Abreu has been hailed as a visionary, not only in his native Venezuela but throughout the world, as architect of the extraordinary music-education program called El Sistema."

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