Members of “El Sistema” play harps, as part of their “New Members” program, outside of the operating room where a woman is giving birth to her son at a public maternity hospital in Caracas

Members of “El Sistema” play harps, as part of their “New Members” program, outside of the operating room where a woman is giving birth to her son at a public maternity hospital in Caracas

Members of “El Sistema” play harps, as part of their “New Members” program, outside of the operating room where a woman is giving birth to her son at a public maternity hospital in Caracas October 1, 2014. In a nation awash with guns and with one of the world’s highest murder rates, Venezuela’s hugely successful classical music program, known as “El Sistema” (The System), has for decades sought to counteract poor children’s exposure to violence with the gentle and inspiring influence of classical music. It used to only admit children aged at least 5. But under its latest “New Members” projects, hundreds of smaller infants can receive voice lessons, musical initiation with paper-made instruments, and free concerts, at its base in Caracas. Picture taken October 1, 2014. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins (VENEZUELA – Tags: EDUCATION HEALTH SOCIETY)