About the project
MusicACT – Activating Careers in Music for Youth is implemented by El Sistema Greece (Greece), Sistema Cyprus (Cyprus), Trillargento (Italy) and the Reina Sofía School of Music (Spain), with a shared mission to support young musicians in building sustainable and inclusive careers in the music sector. MusicACT is a 24-month Creative Europe Cooperation Project co-funded by the European Union.
The project addresses key challenges faced by emerging musicians, particularly those from marginalized communities, by providing access to training, mentorship and real-world artistic opportunities. Through a combination of residency-based learning, online training and professional mentoring, MusicACT will equip participants with essential skills in digital self-promotion, music monetisation, creative entrepreneurship and environmentally sustainable practices in the cultural sector.
A central element of the project is the development of a Digital Resource Hub, which will offer long-term access to training materials, tools and resources for young musicians, educators and cultural organisations across Europe and beyond.
The project will also include a 3-day international residency in Athens, mentoring activities, concerts and artistic outputs, as well as dissemination workshops and an international online seminar, ensuring wide visibility and impact at national, European and international level.
Through its activities, MusicACT aims to strengthen cooperation between social music programmes and higher music education institutions, while promoting inclusion, innovation and sustainability in the European music ecosystem.
Partners
El Sistema Greece offers free, high-quality music education to children and youth across Greece, fostering an inclusive community that celebrates diversity. Inspired by the renowned El Sistema Venezuela, it provides group-based music activities in diverse settings, including refugee facilities, shelters, after-school centers, and its main location in Kypseli, Athens. The program nurtures community, social inclusion, and personal growth through collective music practice, positively impacting students, their families, and society. Since its founding in 2016, 3,425 young people aged 5-26 have benefited from El Sistema Greece’s initiatives, and have made a lasting impact on their families and wider communities.
Sistema Cyprus is a social-music orchestra programme established in 2017. Sistema Cyprus offers music education to the children and young people of Cyprus, including migrants, refugees and children and young people with fewer opportunities, and ensures that these groups are respected, recognised, and included in the society.
Sistema Cyprus offers free symphonic music education focused on the personal development of its participants focusing primarily on empowerment and reaching their full potential. Through the formation of orchestras, Sistema Cyprus acts as a superb model, reaching children and young people of the most underprivileged neighbourhoods.
Trillargento is a non-profit organization that uses music education to promote inclusion and develop the skills of children and teenagers facing socio-economic, cultural, emotional, educational, or disability-related challenges. Our mission is to foster lasting social change in some of Genoa’s most deprived communities, inspired by El Sistema. Over the past ten years, we have reached more than 2,000 children and young people. Today, we work weekly with five orchestras, a choir, and a rock band, involving 350 children, teenagers, and adults from their educational communities. Each year, we also run special projects for refugees, asylum seekers, and people with sensory and cognitive disabilities.
The Reina Sofía School of Music is an internationally recognised centre for the training of young musicians. Its academic model is based on personalised instruction from renowned professors across its instrumental, vocal, and composition chairs. The programme integrates orchestral practice, chamber music, and regular public performances. In addition, the School is committed to innovation through entrepreneurship and the integration of new technologies, ensuring the highest standards of artistic excellence.
A strong emphasis is placed on performance as a central learning tool, providing students with frequent opportunities to engage with audiences in professional settings. The curriculum fosters both individual artistic development and collaborative skills, preparing students for the demands of international careers. Through a dynamic, practice-based environment, the School promotes creativity, discipline, and a deep understanding of musical expression, positioning itself as a leading institution in higher music education.