El Sistema
El Sistema
Katherine Rivas joined El Sistema at the age of 8, in the center of Anzoátegui state, where she received her first formal flute lessons.
Since then, she has developed her talent within Venezuela’s most influential pedagogical and artistic program, characterized by collective learning, social inclusion, and free access to music education.
• She stood out from an early age as one of the most promising students.
• Katherine was the principal flutist in various regional youth orchestras before rising to the national level.
Katherine was selected as first flute of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela (OSSBV), the most important professional ensemble of El Sistema. With this orchestra:
• Participated in more than 20 international tours, appearing in the most prestigious theaters in the world.
• She was conducted by great figures of classical music such as: Gustavo Dudamel, Claudio Abbado, Sir Simon Rattle
Daniel Barenboim, Eduardo Marturet, Christian Vásquez.
• Shared the stage with international soloists and conductors such as: Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, Miah Persson, Anna Larsson.
Katherine also played an important role as an educator and mentor within El Sistema:
As an instructor at the Latin American Flute and Piccolo Academy, she provided sectional classes, breathing and embouchure training, master classes, and personalized mentoring.
In regional centers such as Anzoátegui and Caracas, she contributed to the development of young flutists through dedicated teaching and guidance.
Her involvement extended to educational workshops and concerts designed for children, reinforcing the values of music as a transformative tool.
Katherine also served on audition juries for major ensembles, including the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra, National Children’s Orchestra of Venezuela, and the Simón Bolívar Conservatory of Music.
Between 2012 and 2016, she was appointed by the General Directorate of El Sistema as an evaluator for internal processes related to promotion, admission, and the formation of new orchestral ranks.
Her work was instrumental in the selection and assessment of over 2,500 young musicians across various stages of their musical training.
