Inspired by Venezuela’s El Sistema, our program was founded in 2009 and became one of the first official El Sistema “nucleos” in the U.S. The original El Sistema was created to empower children in poverty through ensemble music education—an approach that has impacted over 4 million youth worldwide. We proudly carry this legacy forward. The Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center Orchestral program is a social-change-through-music program rooted in the belief that access to high-quality music education can transform lives. We provide professional, college-level music training—completely free—to youth in St. Louis, with a focus on communities that have historically been underserved. Through orchestral performance, music theory, private lessons, and ensemble work, students gain discipline, confidence, and community. Our goal isn’t just to increase diversity in classical music—we aim to replace despair with creative engagement and personal growth.