Style & Culture |

Guatemalan musicians to bring ethnic sounds

12 performers to join orchestra for concert on Oct. 31

By Kaitlynn Perreault

Posted on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009, 3:10 am

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The University of Maine plans to host 12 Guatemalan student musicians on campus from Oct. 24 to Nov. 3 to play in the university’s orchestral concert in the Minsky Auditorium Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m.

“These students work really hard, and I know they will be prepared to jump in and play the music we have been preparing,” said third-year student and violinist Francesca Levigne.

Some of the UMaine students contacted Bruno Campo, conductor of Orchestra Municipal Juvenil de Guatemala, last fall. Not long after, four of UMaine orchestra’s students traveled to Guatemala making connections with with foreign musicians. Even though both orchestras are not as close with one another as they would like, Hannah Schriefer, a second-year violinist, knows the music can bring them closer.

“Even though we just met, playing music brings us together in a way that words can’t really describe, and I’m really excited to see them again,” Schriefer said.

Wanting to become closer and keep the visits going, Schriefer, Levigne and others in the orchestra came up with the idea to start an annual exchange program between the two orchestras.

“It was really exciting to play with them when we traveled to Guatemala. The students have so much energy and are really dedicated to playing music. Whenever we weren’t rehearsing as a group, the students would be practicing the music individually all over the school,” Levigne said. “So, we have pretty much started this exchange program with the students in Guatemala in the sense that four of us from UMaine have traveled to Guatemala to play in their concerts, and now several students will be coming here to play with us in our concert.”

This is the Guatemalans’ first time coming to UMaine and the United States, but UMaine orchestra conductor Anatole Wieck plans to acknowledge the students not only for their musical performance but for what they are trying to do in their country. He said they are trying to improve their culture every day by bringing passionate music there.

“What they try to do is to put as much passion into their music as possible. This is something I am after myself,” Wieck said. “This is another reason why it will be so great.”

The conductor of the Guatemalan orchestra chose each member to come over to the university. Wieck said most of the musicians are violinists, viola, cello or double bass players. There is no doubt among the UMaine orchestra that the Guatemalan musicians will bring a new spark to the orchestra and to the show itself.

“I definitely think that having them here will add to the orchestra,” Schriefer said. “They are all such amazing musicians ,and they play with such enthusiasm and heart. I think that it will be great for our orchestra to have them here.”

Wieck said this is one of the best things to happen to the orchestra, not only for its music, but because it can open doors to better international relations.

“Having them in our show will be our window to the world,” Wieck said.