There are now some 500 or so orchestras throughout the country, some of which perform internationally. Many of the young musicians have even become professionals. El Sistema graduates include conductors of the Venice Opera and Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic's youngest player ever According to British conductor Sir Simon Rattle, "There is nothing more important in the world of music than what is happening in Venezuela." These young musicians must surely be motivating role models for other young people in their home country