Venezuelan violinist Romina Rivera Cruz dies at age nine

Romina Rivera Cruz, a nine-year-old Venezuelan violinist, has passed away after a ten-day hospitalization in Acarigua, Portuguesa state. A member of the National System of Youth and Children's Orchestras and Choirs (El Sistema), Rivera Cruz lived with cystic fibrosis.

In October 2025, the young musician gained international recognition when she traveled to Rome as part of a 160-child Venezuelan delegation. During this trip, she performed a violin solo in Arturo Márquez’s ‘Danzón n.º 2’ at the Vatican during the ‘Santos y Música para Todos’ concert, appearing before Pope Leo XIV.

El Sistema expressed deep sorrow over her death, praising her talent and passion for art. Local educators and instructors described her as a disciplined and happy student who remained dedicated to her musical studies despite her chronic health condition.