SONG - Sistema Lombardia

What SONG - Sistema Lombardia does

SONG - Sistema Lombardia (legal name: Associazione SONG ETS) is an Italian Third Sector non-profit association founded in 2011 in Milan on the initiative of Maestro Claudio Abbado, applying the El Sistema Venezuela collective music-education methodology developed by Maestro Jos\u00e9 Antonio Abreu. The organization delivers free orchestral and choral music education to children and youth aged approximately 6-19 across 7 territorial zones in Milan (Zone 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7) and the Varese area, served through Territorial Nuclei embedded in public schools and community centers, plus 4 Associated Nuclei (ImmaginArte, L'Altramusica, L'Albero della Musica, Orchestra giovanile PEPITA). Core programs include the PYO - Pasquinelli Young Orchestra (ages 7-18), Coro SONG (ages 6-19), Coro Manos Blancas for children with special abilities, and instrument-specific laboratories (Orchestra Magnetica, Orchestra SONG del Barrio's, Orfeo Suoniamo Insieme, San Siro Music Lab, plus percussion and vocal tracks).

Underlying technology is pedagogical rather than digital: the proprietary 'collective music education' methodology adapted from El Sistema, a curated repertoire spanning classical, contemporary, and world music, and a working instrument library built through the 'Costruire con la Musica' donation program (400+ instruments in year one alone). The only technology stack disclosed is standard web infrastructure (Google Analytics, Tag Manager, reCAPTCHA, Maps, Fonts); there is no app, no proprietary software, and no AI component.

The business model is non-commercial. All music-education services are provided free of charge to participants, with no tuition, subscription, or per-seat pricing. Revenue is sourced from four streams: individual donations and the Italian 5x1000 tax designation (with tiered giving prompts from \u20ac15 to \u20ac100), corporate sponsorships (event sponsorship \u20ac10,000-15,000, nucleus establishment \u20ac10,000/year orchestra or \u20ac5,000/year choir, instruments \u20ac3,000, with Italian Third Sector tax deductions), public funding from the Ministry of Culture, Fondazione Cariplo, and other government bodies, and in-kind instrument donations. SONG's GTM is community-led: participants are recruited via Open Days, school partnerships, and word-of-mouth, with free concerts at prestigious Italian venues (Teatro alla Scala, Teatro Dal Verme, Teatro Lirico Giorgio Gaber, Gallerie d'Italia) used to build visibility. The customer base is split between beneficiary participants (920 young musicians, 2830 listeners) and donor-side counterparties (corporate sponsors, foundations, public bodies). SONG co-founded Sistema Europe (100+ members) and participates in Sistema Global, SEYO, Side by Side, and Superar international exchange networks.

Name

SONG - Sistema Lombardia

Legal name

Associazione SONG ETS

Website

https://sistemalombardia.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Associazione SONG ETS is a Milan-based Italian non-profit founded in 2011 by Maestro Claudio Abbado that delivers free collective orchestral and choral music education to 920 children and youth across Lombardy, modeled on El Sistema Venezuela. It is funded by donations, corporate sponsorships, and public grants, and operates through territorial nuclei embedded in public schools and community centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE), Early Childhood Music Education (Ages 0–7) (EDAMANAD)

Keywords

• Collective music education
• Youth orchestra programs
• Choral music education
• Community music programs
• Inclusive music programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Milano

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through direct donations and the 5x1000 tax designation (Italian tax mechanism allowing taxpayers to direct 0.5% of their tax to non-profit organizations). Donors can support specific initiatives like €15 for insurance, €30 for one laboratory hour, €50 for practice hour, €100 for a violin.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support concerts/events (€10,000-15,000 per event), establishment of new nuclei (€10,000/year for orchestra, €5,000/year for choir), musical instruments (€3,000), and special projects. Benefits include branding, communication, and tax deductions under Italian Third Sector law.
3. Public Funding: SONG receives public contributions from Ministry of Culture, Fondazione Cariplo, and other government bodies. Financial reports and public contribution disclosures are available in their transparency section.
4. Instrument Donations: The 'Costruire con la Musica' program collects musical instruments from donors. Since 2011, over 400 instruments have been donated in the first year alone. Instruments are restored and loaned to young musicians for free.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SONG (Sistema delle Orchestre e dei cori – Nuclei Giovanili e infantili) is a non-profit association that delivers free collective music education to children and youth aged 6–19 across Milan and Lombardy. Its offerings center on orchestral and choral programs (Pasquinelli Young Orchestra, Coro SONG, Coro Manos Blancas) together with weekly music laboratories (Laboratori Musicali) organized by territorial zones and taught in schools, community centers, and aggregation spaces. Programs are offered completely free of charge to participants and are funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and public grants.

Product overview

SONG (Sistema delle Orchestre e dei cori – Nuclei Giovanili e Infantili) is a nonprofit music education organization that offers free collective music education programs across Lombardy. The core product portfolio includes orchestral and choral programs: the PYO - Pasquinelli Young Orchestra (ages 7-18), the SONG Choir (ages 6-19), and the Coro Manos Blancas for children with special abilities. These are supported by a network of music laboratories (Laboratori Musicali) organized by territorial zones across Milan, including Orchestra Magnetica, Coro Magnetico, Orchestra SONG del Barrio's, Orfeo Suoniamo Insieme, San Siro Music Lab, and various youth choirs. The organization operates from Fondazione Pasquinelli in Corso Magenta 42, Milan, and provides free ensemble music education accessible to all young people.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PYO - Pasquinelli Young Orchestra: The main orchestra bringing together young musicians aged 7-18 from different Territorial Nuclei and Associated Nuclei. Named in honor of Maestro Francesco Pasquinelli.
• Coro Manos Blancas

Products and services

• PYO - Pasquinelli Young Orchestra The Pasquinelli Young Orchestra is SONG's flagship large ensemble that unites young musicians aged 7–18 drawn from different Territorial Nuclei and Associated Nuclei. It alternates between string-only and symphonic ensembles and performs pieces from the classical and popular repertoire, including major concerts such as Note sul Podio and Sulle ali della Musica.
• Coro SONG The SONG Choir periodically brings together young singers aged 6–19 for rehearsals and concerts, involving students from associated music schools and other territorial realities. It is coordinated and directed by Pilar Bravo and has performed across multiple venues in Milan.
• Coro Manos Blancas SONG An inclusive choir model where children and young people with special abilities wear white gloves and express themselves through body and hand gestures, making music visible. Each member is accompanied by a young peer as a tutor. Active since 2016, it involves 22 musicians with special abilities from I.C. Paolo e Larissa Pini and 15 from I.C. Arcadia.
• Orchestra Magnetica An orchestra laboratory active at Auditorium MAGNETE in Milan, led by teachers Miloš Rakić and Eleonora Regorda, focusing on violin and viola.
• Coro Magnetico A choir laboratory at Auditorium MAGNETE in Milan, directed by Annalisa De Filippis.
• Orfeo Suoniamo Insieme A string instrument laboratory (violin, viola, cello) at IC Tommaso Grossi school in Milan, run by teachers Adriana Sanchez Malaga, Celsa Herrera Espinal, and Minna Ernqvist.
• Orchestra SONG del Barrio's An orchestra at Centro Sociale Barrio's offering clarinet, cello, flute, harp, violin, viola, and double bass lessons, with Saturday orchestra sessions.
• Laboratori Musicali SONG (Music Laboratories Network) The umbrella network of weekly free music laboratories offered to children and teenagers of various ages, held in schools, social centers, and community spaces. Includes choral and orchestral programs organized by territorial zones across Milan and the broader Lombardy region.
• San Siro Music Lab A music laboratory in the San Siro area of Milan, taught by Celsa Herrera Espinal, held every Tuesday and Saturday.
• Coro Giovanile SONG della Cadorna A youth choir open to all from age 11, held every Friday at IC Cadorna, Scuola Primaria Dolci.
• Nuclei Territoriali SONG Territorial nuclei are the fundamental organizational and teaching units for all SONG activities. These are orchestral and choral laboratories created and managed in schools and aggregation centers across Milan's zones (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7) and broader Lombardy locations, including the four associated nuclei ImmaginArte (Varese), L'Altramusica (Milano Zona 3), L'Albero della Musica (Milano Zones 1/2/4), and Orchestra giovanile PEPITA (Zones 6/7/8).
• Laboratorio di Percussioni SONG A percussion laboratory for children and teenagers aged 10–16, taught by Riccardo Lo Faro and Alberto Congia.

Quantifiable outcome

• 920 young musicians actively participating in free music education programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Superar SuisseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026SONG participated in the Superar Suisse concert at LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, joining approximately 300 young musicians from various countries. SONG students performed alongside Superar ensembles from Lugano, Basel, and Zurich, along with groups from Bratislava, Buenos Aires, and other locations.
• Fondazione LaureuscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in the Power2Play project, an innovative educational path based on the hybridization of music and sport. The project takes place during school hours in 20 third-grade classes from 5 Comprehensive Institutes (Pini, Tommaso Grossi, Alda Merini, Cadorna, Arcadia) with funding from the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
• Sistema EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013SONG was a promoter of Sistema Europe, an association coordinating a network of over 100 members that regularly meet to share best practices and projects at the European level. SONG hosted SEYO 2015 (Sistema Europe Youth Orchestra) in Milan during EXPO with 250 musicians from 33 countries, culminating in concerts at La Scala and Teatro degli Arcimboldi.
• Sistema GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Since 2013, SONG adheres to Sistema Global, the worldwide network of El Sistema, which has produced the fundamental 'Review' of System-related research literature.
• Alliance for ChildhoodminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Through collaboration with Alliance for Childhood, SONG contributes to shaping European policies regarding childhood quality.
• Fondazione PasquinelliflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011The Fondazione Pasquinelli is SONG's first partner since its creation in 2011. They share the project's goals with particular attention to good organization. Over the years, they have provided essential economic support for SONG's structure. Since 2013, they have hosted SONG in their spaces at Corso Magenta 42, providing both office and teaching facilities.
• Società del Quartetto di MilanominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for concerts during the Settimana del Sistema and SOUND project at Gallerie d'Italia with Banca INTESA.
• Vento di TerraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerONG partner for the Progetto Hari Rud, supporting communities in Afghanistan. Part of the proceeds from Note sul Podio 2026 concert will be dedicated to food security in Herat province.
• Orchestra OlimpiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for Note sul Podio 2026, with musician Francesca Perrotta conducting.
• Civica Scuola di Musica Claudio AbbadominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating institution for Note sul Podio 2026 concert.
• Civici Corsi di JazzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating institution for Note sul Podio 2026 concert.
• UNDP (Programma delle Nazioni Unite per lo Sviluppo)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSONG joined the appeal for communities affected by the earthquake in Venezuela, supporting the fundraising initiative launched by Maestro Gustavo Dudamel together with UNDP for humanitarian interventions.
• ImmaginArtecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated Nucleus with reference Carlo Taffuri as President, operating in Varese area.
• L'AltramusicacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated Nucleus with reference Barbara Tripodi as President, operating in Milano Zona 3.
• L'Albero della MusicacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated Nucleus with reference Michela Malinverno as President, operating in Milano Zona 1, 2, and 4.
• Orchestra giovanile PEPITA (Children in Crisis Italy ETS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated Nucleo with reference Serenella Di Palma, operating in Zona 6, 7, 8.
• Gallerie d'ItaliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Christmas concerts in collaboration with Società del Quartetto di Milano and SONG.
• AIM - Academy for Impact through MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating organization studying the effect of collective music on the well-being of young musicians and communities, involved in the Note in festa concert at COOP.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sistema New York: US non-profit offering free, intensive music programs to children in New York City public schools using the El Sistema methodology. Direct peer to SONG: same collective ensemble pedagogy, school-partnership delivery model, and youth-focused social-impact mission.
• Sistema Wales: Welsh charity delivering free El Sistema-style music programs to children in underserved communities. Direct peer to SONG in methodology (collective ensemble learning), free access, and outcome-focused social mission; another European Sistema affiliate for cross-comparison.
• Sistema Toronto: Canadian non-profit delivering free El Sistema-inspired music education to children in underserved Toronto neighborhoods. Direct peer to SONG: identical pedagogical approach, free-to-participant delivery, orchestra/choir focus, and similar fundraising reliance on donations and corporate partners.
• Mus-e Italia: Italian non-profit bringing professional artists (including musicians) into schools serving disadvantaged children. Direct peer to SONG in country, mission, and school-embedded delivery model, though it operates across multiple art forms rather than exclusively music.
• Fundamusical Bolívar (El Sistema Venezuela): The original Venezuelan El Sistema organization from which SONG's entire pedagogical approach is derived. Direct conceptual parent and peer: free collective orchestral/choral education for youth in underserved communities, with global Sistema affiliates including SONG itself.
• Sistema Scotland: Scottish charity running Big Noise programs in deprived communities, inspired by El Sistema. Direct peer to SONG in mission, methodology, free delivery, and youth-orchestra structure; one of the most mature Sistema-inspired programs in Europe and a natural benchmark for SONG's outcomes.
• Superar Suisse: Swiss non-profit running free collective music education programs for children based on the El Sistema model. Direct peer to SONG: same methodology, same target audience (disadvantaged youth), same collective orchestra/choir format, and explicitly listed as a SONG collaborator (SONG students performed alongside Superar ensembles at LAC Lugano).

Broad incumbents

• Conservatorio di Milano: Largest and oldest music conservatory in Milan, offering formal higher-education music programs. Broad incumbent in the same geography: targets an older, credentialing-focused segment, but competes for the same pool of young musical talent, teacher attention, and institutional prestige in Lombardy.
• Civica Scuola di Musica Claudio Abbado: Major Milan-based fee-charging music school also named after Claudio Abbado and listed as a SONG concert collaborator. Adjacent incumbent in the same city: provides paid instrumental and vocal instruction across a broader curriculum, competing for students, visibility, and donor attention.

Emerging players

• Academy for Impact through Music (AIM): International research and convening organization studying the well-being effects of collective music education on youth; explicitly listed as a SONG collaborator on the Note in festa concert. Emerging player in the same ecosystem, providing evidence and advocacy that supports SONG's fundraising, but not a direct teaching peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SongOnlusVideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/sistemalombardia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/song-sistema-lombardia
• Instagraminstagram.com/sistemalombardia

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SONG - Sistema Lombardia