Update on the Orquesta de los Barrios
The musicians of the Orquesta de los Barrios have resumed rehearsals in the auditorium of the AACI (Asociación Argentina de Cultura Inglesa) under Nestor Tedesco’s tutelage, fitting these and other rehearsals and studies into their busy schedules. And they really do have their time cut out for them: some concurrently study at the Instituto Superior de Arte Teatro Colón (ISATC), others are at the Universidad Nacional del las Artes (UNA), or the Conservatorio Astor Piazzolla or Conservatorio Manuel de Falla. Still others are following careers at undergraduate level at the Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), the Universidad Nacional de La Matanza and other universities. Their continued dedication as members of the Orquesta de los Barrios is testament to their love of music and motivation.
On the evening of June 3rd several UWC members and other supporters of the orchestra attended a wonderful concert at the Teatro Colon, where we listened to the Buenos Aires Philharmonic Orchestra play a program with works by Fanny Mendelssohn, Franz Danzi, and Franz Schubert under the baton of guest conductor Srba Dinic and with Caludio Barile as flute soloist for the Danzi piece.
What was very special about this concert was that cellist Ayelen Giacobbe of the Orquesta de los Barrios performed as part of the Buenos Aires Philharmonic. Her talent was recognized at ISATC, where she studies, and she was hired to play with the Philharmonic for this year’s concerts. What a thrilling moment for her. Of course, it goes without saying that Ayelen’s motivation was given an extra boost by this, and she dove straight into full concentration mode with concert rehearsals (each concert involves five prior rehearsals). At the close of the concert, we greeted Ayelen at the stage door with a bouquet of flowers. She was radiantly happy and her hard work at rehearsals paid off. She told us she especially enjoyed playing Schubert. This is an important step in Ayelen’s career as a musician, and we are all immensely proud of her. This year of concerts with the Buenos Aires Philharmonic will provide her with invaluable experience and who knows where it may lead
From left to right: Monica Plou, Julia Perez (non-UWC “madrina”), Phyllis Barrantes, Elena Maza, Ayelen Giacobbe, Joanna Richardson (Ayelen’s “madrina”) and Victoria Ramos, who was just out of her class at the ISATC and joined us for the photo.
Nestor Tedesco has coached and accompanied so many young musicians along their career path, sowing the seed of musical appreciation from an early age in the very young and keeping alive in them the motivation and conviction that music is fundamental to their passage through life. Nestor is full professor of cello at UNA and director of the UNA’s “Jorge Perez Tedesco Cello Ensemble”. He is always busy organizing musical events to stimulate and arouse the interest of young musicians: on Saturday May 28th the cello ensemble, including Nestor himself and Ayelen Giacobbe, performed for the Orquesta del Barrio Retiro of which Nestor is also the musical director. This orchestra of very young players then reciprocated by playing for the ensemble, a veritable musical feast! Nestor commented what a wonderful experience it was for these young players to observe more senior musicians playing, the motivation to continue with music is so much stronger after events like this.
On the following day, Sunday May 29th, the “Jorge Perez Tedesco” Cello Ensemble performed at the Museo Histórico Sarmiento.