About Side by Side
What Is Side by Side?
Side by Side is an international music camp for young orchestral musicians and choir singers aged 6-23 who want to develop musically and get to know other children and young people with the same interest in music. The camp is arranged every June by the Gothenburg Symphony and is the world's largest music camp of its kind. Side by Side puts Gothenburg on the world map as a meeting point for young music lovers from around the world who can connect through music and gain a sense of community and hope for the future.
With music as a unifying force, we build bridges
between people, cultures and continents.
A Part of Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
The Side by Side music camp is the flagship of Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra's ambitious portfolio of children's and youth activities. As the National Orchestra of Sweden, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra proudly helps introduce children and youth to the world of classical music, by lowering the proverbial thresholds and making music and culture accessible to people of all ages regardless of background.
Inspired by El Sistema
El Sistema music program was started in Venezuela in 1975 by José Antonio Abreu and its motto is "music for social change". The basic idea is that children and young people who have access to musical education and musical practice have a greater chance of developing in a positive direction both as individuals and as citizens of society. The idea of learning by example is central to El Sistema's practice, where those who have reached a stage in their musical development teach those who aren't quite as far along on their journey. A common approach is to play together side by side, regardless of the level of the musicians. This is also one of Side by Side's core tenets.
Music is not only a democratic right but can achieve real change in society and in people's lives.
Camp History
World conductor Gustavo Dudamel has a background in El Sistema and when he became chief conductor of Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra in 2007, he brought the thoughts and ideas from Venezuela with him. It was inspiring! In 2009, work began to implement El Sistema in Sweden with the vision that all children should be given the opportunity for positive development through singing in choirs and playing in orchestras. The El Sistema Foundation, the Schools of the Arts in Gothenburg and the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra collaborated in this endeavour. In 2014 the first Side by Side camp was arranged as one of Gothenburg's jubilee projects in anticiaption of the city's 400th anniversary.
On this page, you can read more about Side by Side by El Sistema. During the pandemic, the camp may function in a slightly different way. Always stay up to date about this year’s camp by subscribing to our newsletter and following us on social media.
ORGANIZER
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra has been the main organizer for the international music camp Side by Side El Sistema Sweden since 2016. As a flag ship for the Swedish National Orchestra´s Children and youth activities, the camp is an important international meeting place for children and youths!
The camp is supported by the City of Gothenburg and Region Västra Götaland. And operates in close collaboration with the foundation El Sistema Sweden as well as the Gothenburg Schools of the Arts, El Sistema is inspired by the unique model of social inclusion through music that was developed in Venezuela in 1975 and founded by J A Abreau. With the vision that all children in Sweden should be given the opportunity for positive development through musical practice in a choir or orchestra, the foundation works to spread and develop El Sistema in Sweden.
The Gothenburg Schools of the Arts are cultural meeting places for children and young people. Every week, thousands of young participants meet to create experiences together and lay the foundation for a meaningful future for the rest of their lives. Through education, The Gothenburg Schools of the Arts contribute to creative meetings with musical, social and human development in focus, to stimulate children and young people to claim their place in an equal and sustainable Gothenburg.
Side by Side by El Sistema began as one of Gothenburg's anniversary projects. Together with young people from all over the world, we have celebrated with lots of joy and creativity for over 10 years time. Our goal for Side by Side by El Sistema was that, in connection with Gothenburg's 400th anniversary, we would be a world-leading music camp for participants from all over the world. We were.
The anniversary camp puts Gothenburg on the world map as children and youth from all over the world meet through music and feel participation and faith in the future. With music as a force, we oppose segregation and build bridges between people, cultures and continents.
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Lägerfotograf Francis Löfvenholm
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