Youth Orchestra of the Americas Brings Diverse Talent to South America on 2005 Residency and Tour
Joint Performance with Choral Arts Society of Washington at Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires
Julia Ernst, Youth Orchestra of the Americas, provided this report.
 A tropical island, swaying palm trees, a turquoise sea lapping pearly-white sands, and 102 young people eager to have the time of their lives – each carrying with them the pride of representing their nations in this unique gathering of musical talent from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, México, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.
After three weeks of intensive rehearsals on Isla de Margarita, Venezuela, with nine professional musicians on the master music faculty and four visionary conductors – YOA Principal Conductors Carlos Miguel Prieto and Gustavo Dudamel, and Guest Conductors Roger Kellaway and David Robert Coleman – this young ensemble of musical talent was ready for their tour.
CARACAS – VENEZUELA
In the concert hall, US Ambassador William Brownfield met with each of the US musicians before YOA performed under the colorful "acoustic clouds" designed by Alexander Calder in Caracas' famed Aula Magna.
BOGOTÁ, MEDELLÍN, CALI – COLUMBIA
Upon arrival in Bogotá, President Álvaro Uribe, the Minister of Culture, and José Fernando Iragorri of Asociación Nacional de Música Sinfónica received YOA Board members, sponsors, and two YOA musicians from Colombia at Palacio Nariño, the presidential palace. That evening, First Lady Lina Moreno de Uribe, Minister of Culture María Consuelo Araújo, and US Cultural Attaché Peter Samson and his wife attended YOA's concert at Bogotá's Teatro Colón. Following concert performances in Medellín and Cali, YOA returned to Bogotá to participate in a community program for students at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.
BUENOS AIRES & ROSARIO – ARGENTINA
YOA was honored to be presented in Argentina by the prestigious Mozarteum Argentino. YOA performed two concerts at the famous Teatro Colón, including a joint performance with The Choral Arts Society of Washington, and also one concert in Rosario. In Buenos Aires, US Ambassador Lino Gutiérrez and his wife, Miriam, gave a warm reception for YOA and The Choral Arts Society of Washington in their elegant embassy residence.
LIFTING THE SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAS
This musical adventure, this tour-de-force, this life changing experience is YOA. To share with thousands of people how music can bring nations together, raise spirits above the mundane and ordinary, and help everyone become better human beings by combining individual capacities toward a common goal: this is how YOA enhances the lives of the participating young people and those around them.
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