The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, has won the Latin GRAMMY® for Best Classical Album for Odyssey. The award was presented on November 12, 2026, in Las Vegas, and it is the orchestra’s second Latin GRAMMY win.
Listen to Odyssey on Spotify.
A Journey Through Latin America
Odyssey is a musical journey through the landscapes, rhythms and soul of Latin America. It includes the orchestra’s interpretation of Arturo Márquez’s “Danzón No. 9,” a vibrant work deeply rooted in cultural identity; Ricardo Lorenz’s “Todo Terreno,” which depicts an off-road adventure through the composer’s native Venezuela; and Gonzalo Grau’s “Odisea,” which moves from urban hustle to dreamlike reverie. The album features cuatro virtuoso Jorge Glem, was produced by Dmitriy Lipay and was released on the Apple-owned Platoon label.
Eduardo Méndez, Executive Director of El Sistema, celebrated the win:
“This award fills me with joy, gratitude, and enormous pride. This is a wonderful moment for the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra and for Venezuela. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Gustavo Dudamel, whose artistic vision, leadership, and love for this orchestra are at the heart of this project. Gustavo is part of our family, and sharing this achievement with him makes it especially meaningful.”
Eduardo Méndez
Méndez also dedicated the award to El Sistema founder José Antonio Abreu and to “every teacher, family, and community that has sustained his vision,” adding that he hopes every young musician watching “understands that there is a place for them, too.”
The Flagship of El Sistema
Founded in 1975, the orchestra is the flagship ensemble of El Sistema, the Venezuelan music education program created by José Antonio Abreu more than fifty years ago. All of its musicians were trained in El Sistema from childhood, including Dudamel himself, who is now a seven-time GRAMMY winner. It was the first Latin orchestra nominated for a GRAMMY for Best Orchestral Performance, a milestone we covered last year for its recording of Ravel’s “Boléro.” In recent years it has played sold-out European tours, appeared at London’s Southbank Centre and joined Coldplay during their 10-night run at Wembley Stadium. El Sistema is also an official UNESCO Category 2 Centre, and its Juan José Landaeta Symphony Orchestra toured Beijing and Shanghai this month.
More information is available at sinfonicasimonbolivar.com.
Our Take
This is a step outside our usual rock and metal coverage, but it is hard to ignore a story like this one. A youth music program that has kept going for half a century, through very difficult times in Venezuela, now has an orchestra winning major awards with a proudly Latin American repertoire. Odyssey is a colorful, accessible album, and a great introduction for anyone curious about orchestral music.
