Youth Symphony
International Exchange Program
The aim is to expand and strengthen the orchestral practice of children and young people from music schools in the state of Cauca through the realization of a large orchestral residency within the framework of the Popayan International Music Festival. Through this program, we are working to generate a great encounter with a high social impact, bringing together in the capital of Cauca more than 500 children from the state around a project that will give them the opportunity to strengthen their musical talent in a large format orchestral practice. The most outstanding students will be selected for a residency in the United States.
According to data recorded in the Colombian music information system SIMUS, of the 1,104 municipalities in Colombia, 440 have no music schools. This national proportion is reflected in the state of Cauca, where half of the municipalities have music schools, and only three of these offer training in fretted strings. Our Youth Symphony Exchange Program will provide music education for more that 500 students in Colombia, ages pre-k through 21 years old, and approximately 10% of these students will have the opportunity to participate in an international exchange program with the United States.
In 2023, the Rojas School of Music, an academy founded in the state of Texas that teaches more than 500 children a week in ten cities, held master classes in Popayán for children between the ages of 6 and 14 in violin, viola, cello, and piano. More than 200 children from Popayán, Piendamó, and Timbío took part.
Similarly, the directors of the state’s music schools and school bands were invited to work on the training of teachers, identifying 22 projects that are consolidating in Cauca, 20 of which responded to the Festival’s invitation to participate in the First Departmental Meeting of Directors of Music Schools. The participating schools currently serve 1,935 children in the areas of fretted strings, plucked strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, choral training and musical initiation.
The schools of origin of these children are described below:
| MUNICIPALITY OF ORIGIN | NAME OF SCHOOL | NUMBER OF STUDENTS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Popayán - Cauca | Escuela de Formación Musical San Pablo de Ricaurte | 40 |
| 02 | Toribio | Banda Sinfónica de Toribío | 34 |
| 03 | Resguardo de Toribío | Banda de Vientos del Resguardo de Toribío | 38 |
| 04 | Páez | Escuela de Formación Musical Páez Vive | 123 |
| 05 | Caloto | Escuela de Formación Artística Caloto | 283 |
| 06 | Miranda | Escuela de Música de Miranda | 364 |
| 07 | Piendamó | Escuela Municipal de Música de Piendamó - Banda | 180 |
| 08 | Piendamó | Orquesta de cuerdas de la escuela de música del municipio de Piendamó. | 28 |
| 09 | Popayán | Arpegio arte y música | 30 |
| 10 | Resguardo Indígena de Paniquitá | Escuela de Música Paniquitá | 30 |
| 11 | Popayán | Universidad Cooperativa | 20 |
| 12 | Totoró | Escuela de música sol naciente | 45 |
| 13 | Popayán | Andrés Pantoja Arango | 1 |
| 14 | Popayan | Arpegio Arte y Música | 50 |
| 15 | Popayán | Instituto para las artes Amalgama | 30 |
| 16 | Tototó | Escuela de música Sol Naciente | 120 |
| 17 | Bolivar Cauca | Universidad del Cauca | 30 |
| 18 | Popayán | Conservatorio Universidad del Cauca | 51 |
| 19 | Timbío | Escuela de Música de Timbío | 120 |
| 20 | Popayán | Escuela Municipal de Música | 318 |
| TOTAL | 1,935 |
These figures correspond to those reported by the teachers or directors of the schools that participated in the Departmental Meeting of Music Schools held during the 60th edition of the Popayán International Music Festival. However, it is important to note that according to the Music Information System – SIMUS – there are more schools in the department of Cauca.
Among the aspects discussed with the directors at the meeting was “tips for optimizing music schools”, with case analysis, led by Eduardo Rojas, Director of the Rojas School of Music, a common approach being the need to work on a large annual meeting that enhances the work of schools in the territories, as part of the actions that seek to promote and support mechanisms for the promotion and appropriation of musical activity.
The realization of this meeting will represent new opportunities for boys and girls to develop their formative skills and circulation in the departmental area and foresees the invitation of children with all expenses covered, so that the limited economic resources of the participants and their parents do not represent an obstacle to participate in the activity.
In this way, we expect to contribute to overcoming limitations that have historically existed in achieving an adequate level of quality and coverage of musical activity in our country, such as weak educational processes and insufficient national exchange processes.
The process will be activated in January, so that between February and March the children will study music with their teachers in the schools. On the 16th of March, they will meet in the capital of Cauca and begin partial workshops by instrument, accompanied by expert teachers from the United States, and then move on to the assembly of the orchestra. The experience will conclude with a grand concert at the Arcada de la Herrería in the city of Popayán. At least 500 children are expected to participate in this program in 2024.
