Actually, the very first time I taught the viola was in a very special setting: on a trip to Costa Rica organised by JONDE (Spanish National Youth Orchestra). JONDE sent musicians to different countries in Central and South America to teach in music schools and work with youth orchestras. I spent almost a month travelling around much of the country, visiting different schools and orchestras for children and young people that were part of SINEM, a network inspired by the Venezuelan El Sistema model.
During the trip, I also had the opportunity to stay with some of my students and their families, who came from very different social backgrounds. This gave me the chance to experience first-hand just how important and transformative music lessons and orchestra rehearsals could be in their lives, especially for young people growing up in more challenging circumstances.
Seeing the incredible power music can have to transform people’s lives made me want to do whatever I could to help bring music, through concerts, teaching and projects, to places and communities where it can make a real difference.
Since then, I have travelled several times to Costa Rica and Mexico, first with JONDE and later on my own. I have also had the opportunity to collaborate with organisations such as MusAid, with whom I took part, together with Mimi Zweig, in a wonderful project with El Sistema in El Salvador.
In 2018, I graduated from the Global Leaders Program, a wonderful programme run by the YOA (Youth Orchestra of the Americas) for musicians with a strong commitment to social projects. Through the programme, I travelled to Namibia, Chile and Rapa Nui, where I worked with the Youth Orchestra of Namibia, Vive la Música Panguipulli and Toki Rapa Nui, the wonderful and magical music school founded on Easter Island by pianist Mahani Teave.
Today, I continue to collaborate whenever I can with music and social organisations in Switzerland and Spain. I also try to stay in touch with, and travel back to visit, friends and students I have met along the way, especially in Costa Rica and Rapa Nui. And I am always open to new journeys, new projects and new musical friends.
After an orchestra concert in Cóbano, Costa Rica
With Maxi, cello student at Toki Rapa Nui
Group Lesson in San Carlos, Costa Rica
Individual lesson at El Sistema in El Salvador
During a Concert at Tonhalle Zürich with Superar Suisse
During a break with the kids from YONA (Youth orchestra of Namibia) in Windhoek
Concert at Tapati Rapa Nui
Concert in a School in Aguas Zarcas, Costa Rica
Group Lesson at Toki Rapa Nui
Rehearsal at Superar Suisse in Basel
