What is Mérida State Symphony Orchestra?
{{Infobox musical artist | Name = Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado Mérida | Img = Orquestra Sinfonica del Estado Merida Panoramica.JPG | Background = classical_ensemble | Alias = Mérida State Symphony Orchestra | Origin = [[Mérida, Venezuela]] | Genre = [[classical music|Classical]] | Occupation = | Years_active = June 21, 1991 - present | URL = [http://www.osem.org.ve www.osem.org.ve] | Current_members = '''[[Music Director]]'''<br>[[César Iván Lara]] | Past_members = [[José Antonio Abreu]] (Founder)<br>[[Amílcar Rivas]] (Co-founder and Artistic Director)<br>[[Sergio Bernal (conductor)|Sergio Bernal]] (Music Director)<br>[[Felipe Izcaray]] (Music Director) }} The '''Mérida State Symphony Orchestra''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]]: '''Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado Mérida''' or '''OSEM''') is a [[symphony orchestra]] based in the [[Venezuela]]n city of [[Mérida, Venezuela|Mérida]]. A [[Nonprofit organization|non-profit organization]], it was founded in 1991 by the Venezuelan [[pianist]] and educator [[José Antonio Abreu]]. == History == The orchestra was established on June 21, 1991 and evolved from the Mérida State Youth Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1978 as part of the [[El Sistema|System of Youth Orchestras of Venezuela]] (FESNOJIV) and led by [[José Antonio Abreu]]. Its co-founder and first artistic director was [[Amílcar Rivas]]. Between 1994 and 1997, its [[Music Director]] was [[Sergio Bernal (conductor)|Sergio Bernal]] who extended the orchestra's repertoire of European and Latin American symphonic music. Between 1998 and 2001, the OSEM was led by [[Felipe Izcaray]] who initiated major programs of community outreach and education which became a fundamental part of the orchestra's activities. César Iván Lara has been the orchestra's Music Director since January 2004. In the 2006 season, the orchestra participated in many official events of the Mérida State Government, [[Univers