(Photo Credit: Fadi Kheir)

The Glenn Gould Foundation has awarded Gustavo Dudamel with the 14th Glenn Gould Prize.

The prize was given to the composer during the August 2, 2024 performance at Carnegie Hall featuring.

“It is a huge honor to receive this prize,” the conductor stated regarding the prize. “Years ago, I was a Protégé Prize winner, given to me by my Maestro Abreu. It makes me very proud, especially to be here with all these amazing young people from my country, Venezuela.

“This is the Venezuela we want,” he said while gesturing to 170 musicians, aged 10-17 on stage with him. “These are the values that we have learned in El Sistema. El Sistema is a program that has been in the life of my country for 50 years, and has given the values of love, of community, of harmony and of peace.

“I want to dedicate this prize to the children and the youth of my beloved country Venezuela.”

Dudamel’s performance at Carnegie with members of El Sistema was condemned by the Human Rights Foundation following the conductor’s silence over the results of the elections in Venezuela.

Additionally, the Glenn Gould Protégé Prize, selected by Dudamel, went to Andrés David Ascanio Abreu and Enluis Montes Olivar. Dudamel was selected for the Protégé Prize in 209 by Dr. José Antonio Abreu.