ABOUT THE ARTIST

The 7/4 Venezuela was born out of the friendship between seven young members of El Sistema that had the desire to extend the boundaries of academic music to include jazz and Latin American music, especially Venezuelan folk music. Their aim is to continue performing with the high technical and artistic standards they have achieved as a result of their education at El Sistema, as well as to disseminate Venezuelan folk music worldwide and making it synonymous with excellence.

In six years as an ensemble, they have toured Venezuela as well as countries such as Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United States. They have participated in festivals such as the Spanish Brass Festival in the city of Alzira in 2011; the Grande Maurice! in 2012, held in Caracas; the Italian Brass Week in 2012; the 2014 Schagerl and the Sauerland-Herbst Brass Festival for three years in a row (2015-2017).

They have recorded two albums: Tour Pabellon Criollo (2012) and 7/4 Pa’ las doce (2013). In 2013, the 7/4 Venezuela Ensemble accompanied maestro Gustova Dudamel and the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela (SBSOV) on their South American Tour, which included performances in Buenos Aires, Sao Paolo, Brasilia and Bogota.

The ensemble toured again with maestro Dudamel and the SBSOV in 2015. This time, they appeared in San Francisco and Los Angeles, where they participated in academic activities and performed in concerts such as the 2015 LA Phil Opening Night Gala.

In 2014, they gave more than 35 concerts at educational centers and theaters iin Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore (including the Berklee College of Music and Harvard University), as part of a tour organized by El Sistema USA in collaboration with Mark Churchill, Benjamin Zander, and the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra.

During its short existence, the 7/4 Ensemble has shared stage with leading figures in the music world such as James Morrison, Thomas Gansch, Allen Vizzutti, Francisco “Pacho” Flores, Arturo Sandoval, Herbie Hancock, Andrea Toffanelli, Rex Richardson, Joe Burgsteller, Gabor Tarkovi, Luis Gonzalez, Thomas Leleu, Zoltan Kiss, Mnozil Brass, Tiger Okoshi, Sam Pilafian, Domingo Pagliuca, Jose Sibaja, Brian Neal, Till Bronner, Jens Lindermann, Andrew Balio, Fernando Ciancio, Spanish Brass, Eric Aubier, Thomas Clamor, Max Somerhalder, Charles Lewis, Benjamin Zander, Mark Churchill, Guestavo Dudamel, and Jose Antonio Abre, among others.

From 2014 to 2016, in collaboration with the Schagerl Company, the 7/4 Ensemble made concert tours and gave master classes throughout Austria.
In Melk, Austria they made a recording from pieces written to the Ensemble and Organ and dedicated to the Abbey. This production will be available in March 2018.

VENEZUELA 7/4 ENSEMBLE

  • Schagerl Bb Trumpet Model „Ganschhorn“
  • Schagerl C-Trumpet Model „Hörsdorf-Heavy“
  • Schagerl Fluegelhorn Model „Killerqueen“
  • Venezuela

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