Dudamel Foundation

The Dudamel Foundation is transforming the world through art, culture, and music. Founded in 2012, our mission is to expand access to music and the arts for young people by providing tools and opportunities to shape their creative futures. We believe that access to art and music is a funda­mental human right in a just and peaceful society. We believe that making music encourages focus and discipline, respect for others, a spirit of collaboration, and values that promote social justice and make us all better global citizens. We believe that young people of all economic and social back­grounds should have access to art and beauty, which is why we strive to provide young people across the world with oppor­tunities to discover and make music and art on their own terms.

Inspired by Gustavo Dudamel’s vision of music to unite and inspire us, the Dudamel Foundation established Encuentros (English: “Encounters”) as a path to explore cultural unity, celebrate harmony, and foster equa­lity, dignity, beauty, and respect through music. In collaboration with institutions across the globe, the orchestral youth leadership program promotes the concept of a “United Americas.” So far, more than 500 young musicians from across the Americas, Europe, and Asia have partici­pated, discovering the power of music for social change and developing leadership skills and tools they can apply in their own communities. In the summer of 2022, the Orquesta del Encuentro comes to the Uni­ted States for the first time with the two-week Encuentros Los Angeles hosted by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Find out more about how you can play a part in our global movement at www.duda­melfoundation.org.