Skip to page content

Encuentros Orchestra

About this Artist

A champion of the belief in music’s power to unite and inspire, Gustavo Dudamel 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, with the goal of inspiring and teaching a new generation of young leaders to work toward building a better world. Under the direction and leadership of Dudamel and his wife and foundation co-chair María Valverde, more than 100 top-tier young musicians (ages 18–26) from the Americas and around the world representing 34 youth-orchestra and El Sistema-inspired programs in 22 countries come together for master classes, rehearsals, cultural activities, conversations, concerts, and more, as they work side by side in the Encuentros Orchestra.

Over this summer’s two-week orchestral training festival, the young musicians will also participate in community initiatives, mentorship opportunities with the YOLA National Festival, and projects throughout Los Angeles, culminating with concerts across California.

VIOLIN I

Jose Gregorio Heredia Ávila (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Luz Marina Ramírez Silva (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Siul Alejandro Angel Prado (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Yoandry Carolina Gómez Bislene (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Cristal Martinez Perez (USA, Austin Soundwaves)
Sergio Paez (USA, YOLA at Torres)
Melissa Percilla (USA, Greater Miami Youth Symphony)
Eunsu Park (South Korea, El Sistema South Korea / KACES)
Mariana da Silva Vilela (Portugal, Orquestra Geracao / Sistema Portugal)
Mariana Jacinto Santos (Portugal, Orquestra Geracao / Sistema Portugal)
Diego Osorno Morales (Mexico, Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura)
Saulo Raúl Cuesta Gordillo (Ecuador, FOSJE)
Sara Galindo Cuartas (Colombia, Fundacion Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogota)
Juan Andrés Rodríguez Berrío (Colombia, Iberacademy)
Sarvia Sarid Toledo Navarrete (Chile, FOJI)
María Esther Eluchans Olivares (Chile, FOJI)
Karen Gabriele Nino Rosa (Brazil, NEOJIBA)
Maria Baitzar Hadjadourian Placereano (Argentina, Teatro Colon)

VIOLIN II

Humberto Miguel Jiménez Díaz (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Mariaelena Gutierrez Abreu (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Nikole Alejandra Cedeño Córdova (Uruguay/Venezuela, Sistema de Orquestas y Coros Juveniles e Infatiles)
Yuriko Imada Terriquez (USA, YOLA at EXPO )
Leslie Gonzalez (USA, Harmony Project)
Hera Molina (USA, YOLA at EXPO)
Moises Molina (USA, Opportunity Music Project)
Angela Ramirez (USA, Coral Reef High School)
Ana Molina Touza (Spain, Joven Orquesta de Canarias)
Gonzalo Sebastián O'Phelan (Peru, Sinfonia por el Peru)
Alejandra Valentina Pino Villafranca (Peru, Sinfonia por el Peru)
Jorge Luis Guzmán García (Mexico, Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura)
Kanon Sato (Japan, El Sistema Japan)
Federico Gallón Tobón (Colombia, Iberacademy)
Ana Carola Coss Torrez (Bolivia, Fundacion Bravura)
Marcos Lombardi (Argentina, Teatro Colon)
José Gregorio Ramirez Catari (Argentina/Venezuela)

VIOLA

Dayany Valeria Aguirre Manzanares (El Salvador, Sistema de Orquestas y Coros de El Salvador)
Samuel Benaim Grand (USA, Boston String Academy)
Paola Alejandra Castillo Escobar (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Christian Cherubini (USA, Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras)
Rocío Celeste Duette (Argentina, Teatro Colon)
Aurimar Valentina Hernández Marín (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Ismael Jesús Infante Pérez (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Oscar Ignacio Lepicheo Mendoza (Chile, FOJI)
Katherine María Paredes Frias (Dominican Republic, Fiesta Clasica)
Martina Pastor (Argentina, Teatro Colon)
Laura Silvia Suau Radovcic (Chile, FOJI)
Linda Patricia Torres Esqueda (Mexico, Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura)
Laura Torroba Bachiller (Spain, Orquesta de Jovenes de la Region de Murcia)

CELLO

Siul Alberto Angel Prado (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Stiven Casas Zúñiga (Colombia, Iberacademy)    
Jonathan Colon (USA, El Sistema Lehigh Valley)
René Emiliano De Gante Canseco (Mexico, Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura)
Lola Deambrosio Larrechart (Uruguay, Sistema de Orquestas y Coros Juveniles e Infatiles)
Patricio Tomás Díaz Alarcón (Chile, FOJI)
Marcus Gee (USA, Kidznotes)
Ricardo Ariel Jaimes Pozo (Bolivia, Fundacion Bravura)
Carlos Alfonzo Linares Anez (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Jairo Rodriguez Visuerte (Spain, Joven Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia)
Estefanía Tezanos Pinto Pereyra (Colombia, Iberacademy)

BASS

Pablo Camacho (USA, Miami Music Project)
Skyler Lee (USA, YOLA at EXPO)
Juan Diego Marín González (Colombia, Iberacademy)
Jude Ian Shawn Melanson (Canada, El Sistema New Brunswick)
Daniela Jhoana Pacheco Vivas (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Anghelo Mateo Panchi Terán (Ecuador, FOSJE)
Uxue Sansiñena Blanco (Spain, Joven Orquesta de Euskal Herria)
Victor Alejandro Trejo Reyes (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)

HARP

America Isabel Romero Acosta (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)

FLUTE

Esteban Orozco Muñoz (Colombia, Fundacion Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogota)
Jose Arana (USA, YOLA at HOLA)
Yoisy Astrid Guaicurba Cisneros (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Francisco Verastegui (USA, The Chamber Music Center of New York)

OBOE

Elena Benedicto Villar (Spain, Fundacion Municipal de Cultura Oviedo)
Joseph Manuel Gonzalez Linares (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Elizabeth Perez-Hickman (USA, Miami Music Project)
Paola María Villalobos Ocampo (Costa Rica, Escuela de Artes Musicales / Universidad de Costa Rica)

CLARINET

Eliana Patricia Arango Ospina (Colombia, Iberacademy)
Leonardo Rafael Giménez del Boccio (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Jaqueline Martínez Álzate (Colombia, Iberacademy)
Diego Alejandro Ramírez Correa (Colombia, Iberacademy)

BASSOON

John Gonzalez (USA, YOLA at HOLA)
Ingrid Hernandez (USA, YOLA at EXPO)
Alberto Amado Martínez Ruiz (Spain, Joven Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid)
Selene Lucia Salgado Martínez (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)

HORN

Rocío Britos Rieiro (Uruguay, Sistema de Orquestas y Coros Juveniles e Infatiles)
Jorge José Carrera García (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Manuel Alejandro Córdova Romero (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Andy Gonzalez (USA, YOLA at EXPO)
Javier Josue Griffith Pereira (Panama, Red de Orquestas y Coros Infantiles y Juveniles)
Diego Michelle Rodríguez Sánchez (Mexico, Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura)
Itayetzy Uranga-Caamano (USA, Corona Youth Music Project)
Mauricio Torres Aldana (Mexico, Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura)

TRUMPET

Victor David Aburto Balladares (Peru, Sinfonia por el Peru)
Hazael Acevedo (USA, YOLA at EXPO)
Roderick Alejandro Alvarado Requena (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Raphael de Souza Elias (Brazil, NEOJIBA)
Luis Mora (USA, Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras)

TROMBONE

Samuel Bernardo Di Giorgio Santana (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)
Gloria Andrea Ramírez Fernández (Colombia, Fundacion Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogota)
Symone Hutchison (Scotland, Big Noise, El Sistema Scotland)

Bass Trombone

Maximiliano Andrés Paulsen Gómez (Chile, FOJI)

TUBA

Ysrraidel Jesús Ascanio Castro (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)

TIMPANI & PERCUSSION

Ricardo Antonio Ferrer Ferrer (Puerto Rico, Conservatorio de Musica de Puerto Rico)
Juan Reinaldo Figueredo Rodas (Paraguay, Proyecto Orquesta Sinfonica Juvenil de Asuncion)
John Sunderman (USA, YOLA at HOLA)
Andrés Eloy Gómez Crespo (Venezuela, Fundacion Musical Simon Bolivar)