Youth Symphony
International Exchange Program
TOWARD AN ORCHESTRA FOR CAUCA: THE PATH OF THE ORCHESTRAL RESIDENCIES
The creation of the Cauca Department’s Children and Youth Symphony Orchestra is the result of a sustained process of musical training and collective effort, born as a response to an urgent need expressed by the directors of the department’s music schools: the lack of permanent spaces for orchestral practice. In a territory as diverse as Cauca, where multiple cultures, traditions, and social realities converge, the importance of creating a space that not only strengthens the musical abilities of children and youth, but also fosters opportunities for connection, community building, and regional integration, became clear.
That is how, at CORFESTIVAL, we took on the challenge of creating a continuous and high-level training strategy: the Orchestral Residencies
What are the Orchestral Residencies?
The Orchestral Residencies are a complementary educational initiative that uses music as a tool to promote inclusion, equity, and resilience in historically disadvantaged communities of Cauca. The project offers high-quality music training clinics led by expert musicians and conductors, where children and youth develop technical and social skills through collective musical practice. Each residency focuses on a specific type of instrumental training (symphonic winds, bowed strings, marimba de chonta, among others) and concludes with a concert that showcases the participants’ talent and progress.
A Path of Learning and Transformation
Over the course of the four previous editions of the Orchestral Residencies, more than 600 young people from 17 municipalities in the department of Cauca have taken part in high-quality musical training. This journey has made it possible to identify, nurture, and support the development of local musical talent, while also creating safe environments, spaces of trust, and new life opportunities for younger generations.
In each residency, the active participation of youth from both rural and urban areas has been essential to strengthening the project’s inclusive approach. Of all participants, 28% come from Indigenous communities, 27% from Afro-descendant communities, and 20% from farming communities, highlighting the region’s rich cultural and ethnic diversity. In addition, 45% of the beneficiaries have been girls and young women, 30% come from female-led households, and 73% are minors—demonstrating the strong social and transformative impact of this kind of initiative.
The Birth of the Cauca Children and Youth Symphony Orchestra
The fifth edition of the Orchestral Residencies marked a turning point in this process: the formation of the Cauca Children and Youth Symphony Orchestra. This ensemble is made up of 60 children and young people from the municipalities of Belalcázar, Bolívar, Cajibío, Inzá, Jambaló (Indigenous reserve), Miranda, Piendamó, Popayán, Péz (a rural division of Totoró), Santander de Quilichao, Silvia, Totoró, Timbío, and Tunía (a rural division of Piendamó).
This achievement was made possible thanks to the leadership of CORFESTIVAL and the collaborative work with music school directors, workshop leaders, institutional partners, and committed families. The artistic direction is led by Maestro Tatiana Pérez Hernández, whose pedagogical and musical vision ensures that this orchestra becomes a model of quality, excellence, and collective effort.
A Commitment to the Future of Cauca
The implementation of orchestral residencies is a key tool for strengthening educational, artistic, and social processes in regions like Cauca, where access to high-level cultural opportunities has historically been limited. The creation of the Cauca Department’s Children and Youth Symphony Orchestra marks an unprecedented milestone in terms of territorial inclusion, social cohesion, and the development of local talent. It provides children and youth from various municipalities with a real platform for artistic growth, collective discipline, and life project building.
These kinds of initiatives not only transform individual lives but also activate networks of community and regional collaboration. For this reason, their sustainability depends on the committed support of the State, the backing of the business sector, and the ongoing involvement of civil society—as a collective effort that places culture at the center of transformation and peace.
