Encuentros España 2021

Gustavo and the Orquesta del Encuentro, June 2021. © Samantha López.

The Dudamel Foundation presents its first European Encuentros in Spain in June 2021 in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation of Spain. A champion of the belief in music's power to unite and inspire, Gustavo created the idea of Encuentros (English: “encounters”) in 2018 through his Foundation as a way to explore cultural unity and celebrate harmony, equality, dignity, beauty, and respect through music. Through this vision, Encuentros inspires and teaches a new generation of young leaders to build a better world.

In that spirit, the Foundation is bringing together students from the Americas — México, the United States, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, Perú, and Nicaragua — and Spain to work together side-by-side in the Orquesta del Encuentro con Dudamel. Workshops and concerts will be conducted by Gustavo with additional sectionals and masterclasses led by a faculty of musicians from the world’s leading orchestras. These mentors will provide the young Dudamel Foundation Artists with musical and leadership training before departing on a cultural community concert tour throughout Spain in June 2021.