TED 2009 Winners Announced

Venezuelan music Maestro Jose Antonio Abreu was chosen for his lifelong work with "El Sistema," a program he founded that teaches disadvantaged youth to play classical music. The system he created has helped thousands of kids, seeding orchestras around the world with Venezualan musicians.

Here's his wish: "I wish you would help create and document a special training program for at least 50 gifted young musicians, passionate for their art and for social justice, and dedicated to developing El Sistema in the U.S. and in other countries."

Oceanographer Sylvia Earle was honored for her lifelong work to save the world's oceans.

Here's her wish: "I wish you would use all means at your disposal -- films! expeditions! the web! more!-- to ignite public support for a global network of marine protected areas, hope spots large enough to save and restore the ocean, the blue heart of the planet."

Astronomer Jill Tarter, director of the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute's Center for SETI Research, was picked for her lifelong pursuit of finding life elsewhere in the universe.

Here's her wish: "I wish that you would empower Earthlings everywhere to become active participants in the ultimate search for cosmic company."