Manos Blancas

It's true! There are really no words to describe what a fantastic project this is. Listen and see for yourselves!

Coro Manos Blancas

No matter who you are or what you are able to do - music is for everybody!

Barquisimeto

First meeting with Maestro Antonio Gonzales and the Percussion students of the conservatory.

The ensemble is very well prepared. And everything organised towards perfection. Roger is Happy and really looking forward to the week.

Master class

Many, many students wanted to play but there was too little time to listen to them all.

Roger did his best to give feed back and instructions. He was very happy to see the high level of the students. Even the young ones have confidence and good basic skills.

Rehearsals

Zavannah by Sörensen. There are so many instructions for the students to take in and transform. But they are eager to learn and very talented.

And Roger is painting in colors and describing the picture. "Here is like when the grandmothers get tired, need a rest and the playing is taken over by the young boys. Lots of energy but not so strong." The character of the music changes completely. The students adapt very quickly.

Sibelius first Symphony in Guanare

Concert with the Youth Orchestra of Guanare. Sibelius first symphony is not coming easy to the students. But their talent and eagerness to learn shows result. In some way the Nordic language talks to the hearts of the Venozelanos.

Woman with visionary ideas

Rebecca Castro is the president of the department of tourism and culture in Guanare. She took us on a historic tour around the city. To us it became more future than history. She expressed her ideas on how to build a society that is proud of its resources and where people want to contribute. In a few years time she hope to make Guanare an interesting city - for tourists. Clean, safe and creative! This was the most hopeful words we ever heard, outside El Sistema. Go Rebecca go!

Among other things Rebecca wants to turn an old church ruin in a poor village called San Rafael into a concert arena. And also wish a Nucleo for the kids, hoping that it will make the parents send their children to school.

Orquesta Sinfonica juvenil de Guanare

One of 14 000 concerts wich will be performed during the anniversary year. 1 million concerts in the whole country. Today with Mestro Carlsson in the audience - played in the "style" of Sibelius.

Concert Casa Coime

Ensemble de Percusion de Los Llanos

Unexpected concert at the restaurant of our hotel. Bravo!

Important work - in different ways

Sunday was THE great celebration

Not always time for a good picture..... A very very happy reunion though!

Eduardo Mendez, general manager of Funda Musical, encouraged us to continue the ongoing project with cultural exchange between our countries.

Gustavo says hello to everyone in Gotemburgo, in the Orchestra and in the Choir - of course!

Then on to the planning of Ensemble de Percusion de Los Llanos visit to Gothenburg in September.

Together with the Zambrano clan. Acuarius, Aries, Francimar, Sharon and Milan!

And on to Guanare, preparing the performance of Sibelius first Symphony.

(Sportlovsorkestern 🎶🎻🎺 på andra sidan jordklotet 😊)

A great event!

Today we attended the concert to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Funda Musical El Sistema in Caracas. What a heart warming occasion! So many people to hug and to shake hands with. Four generations of musicians. Everybody participating. Eduardo Mendes and Gustavo Dudamel joined the orchestra and played the violin. Christian Vasques too. And the warm energy gives us all strength to keep up the good work. Tocar, cantar e luchar!

Here the percussion section.

Here we go again !

On Saturday February 7th yet another adventure begins. We have been invited to take part in the 40th anniversary celebrations of Funda Musical in Caracas. Roger will then be working for the Latin American Percussion Academy in Barquisimeto and Guanare.