Tricia Tunstall 
Changing Lives: Gustavo Dudamel, El Sistema, and the Transformative Power of Music 

“Reminds us of how arts education can change lives.” —Gary Stager, Huffington Post

In this “vivid story” (
Economist), Tricia Tunstall “chronicles the origins and growth of Venezuela’s acclaimed El Sistema national music education program” (Reed Johnson,
Los Angeles Times) and illustrates its overarching goal: to rescue children from the depredations of poverty through music. What began in Venezuela has extended to Los Angeles, New York City, and Baltimore, illustrating that El Sistema is not just a program, it’s a movement. Combining firsthand interviews with compelling stories,
Changing Lives reveals that arts education can indeed effect positive social change in the United States and around the world.

About the author

Tricia Tunstall is the author of Changing Lives: Gustavo Dudamel, El Sistema, and the Transformative Power of Music and Note by Note: A Celebration of the Piano Lesson. A leading advocate for the importance of music education in children’s development, she consults with El Sistema programs in the United States and internationally.