ALEGRO is an educational project designed to provide young people living in social vulnerability in the south of Brazil high quality education in classical music. The key elements of the project are the ALEGRO YOUTH ORCHESTRA which provides young musicians (up to 29 years old) the opportunity to play in an advanced orchestra and study with leading professionals in the field. The ALEGRO JUNIOR ORCHESTRA offers young musicians the opportunity to play in ensembles and MUSIC SCHOOLS where children and adolescents receive structured classical music education and instruments to practice on. ALEGRO is broadly inspired by the El Sistema model of music education, initiated by Maestro Jose Abreu in Venezuela in the 1970s.

ALEGRO is based in Curitiba, capital of Paraná. We support three Teaching Centers in municipalities in the metropolitan region – São Roque Association in Piraquara, Dorcas Project in Almirante Tamandaré and Antoninense Philharmonic in Antonina – all centers together have more than 400 children.

The Alegro Youth Orchestra (OJA) is Alegro’s flagship. It is open to anyone under the age of 29. AUDITIONS are held annually in October.

Our work is based on “Social Integration”. The project is open to everyone, from any background, and admission to the ALEGRO YOUTH ORCHESTRA is entirely based on merit. On the other hand, our MUSIC SCHOOLS are based in communities with significant socio-economic challenges. Thus, there is a strong social element in the project, and the opportunity to study classical music has a profoundly positive effect on the young people who attend the SCHOOLS.

Playing in ALEGRO ensembles or studying in the schools is free. ALEGRO also provides instruments, food, scholarships and help with transport costs for participants.

If you would like to support our work, please visit the support us page. Contributions from international supporters are a key part of our funding strategy and all contributions, no matter how small, make a big difference.