By Joshua Reed | Intern Dreams Can Be
This text was translated by Dreams Can be Foundation and all notes between {} were added by us for clarity and more information by the translator.
The work of the “Grota” continues to grow. This year we have 60 new children attending the project, eight student teachers (older students from the project that help with the classes of the younger students) and three orchestras (A, B & C). Orchestra ‘A’ has performed in many diverse venues and situations this year, all of which being paid performances. The following is a list of some of the places where they were able to perform:
•Two performances were held in the Municipal Theatre of Niterói
•One Performance at the Brazilian Academy of Letters in Rio de Janeiro
•Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional — (the institute of artistic national and historic heritage) in Rio de Janeiro
•Florália (a place where they performed concerts and also appeared at weddings)
•A concert was preformed in the city of Londrina in the state of Paraná.
•As well as various Christmas events around Niterói
{Dreams Can Be note: these performances are not only good for the students, giving them experiences and a larger world view, taking them to places that they might not have otherwise been in their lives, but it also gives society at large the chance to see children who are often of color performing on instruments that are usually in the domain of mostly white, middle and upper class children. This helps to change the erroneous perceptions of a society that can be very prejudicial in terms of the limits of people from the lower classes.}
Orchestras ‘B’ & ‘C’ also conducted presentations for different events in Niterói and Rio de Janiero. These are a few of the venues in which they were able to perform:
• The Hotel Gloria (historic hotel in Rio)
•Igreja N. Sra das Dores do Ingá (Our Lady of Pain of Ingá Church)
•Copacabana Palace (Rio’s most beautiful and historic hotel that has been the host to heads of state and other dignitaries for more than a century)
•For a social project ‘AMC na Baixada’ {one of the poorest regions in Rio}
We also have a group of youngsters which consists of mostly beginners that play the sweet flute who have also preformed at various establishments:
•Niterói Country Club
•Getulinho Hospital (Niterói)
•Castelinho do Flamengo Cultural Center(little castle of Flamengo)
This year we have begun the construction of our headquarters and have added more classrooms as well as a space for rehearsals and concerts. We have also begun to offer night courses for vestibular Preparation {college entrance exams that are generally out of reach for children from these neighborhoods}, which are open to anyone from the community.
Two of our students (the twins Walter and Wagener) have received scholarships to study music in the United States. They are currently there studying, as well as playing music. We are constantly in contact with them and they report that they are very happy.
Wagner and Walter Caldas are 21-year-old twin brothers from the community of Grota do Surucucu, in the town of Niteroi on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Their father, Jonas, was trained from his childhood to craft stringed instruments. Jonas and his wife, Homalia, encouraged their sons Walter and Wagner to take advantage of free music lessons offered in their community. They hoped the twins could gain a skill to take them places outside Niteroi.
Students for the past ten years at the Reciclarte Institute – an organization that offers music instruction to the young people of Grota do Surucucu – the Caldas brothers have already become accomplished violinists. Recently, the twins made their American debut in New York City and are now attending Northen University of Iowa on a partial scholarship to study music.
Read their truly uplifting story in a local Iowan newspaper here: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071021/NEWS/710210342
{The mission of Reciclarte Institute is to develop the artistic potential, cultural identity and self-esteem of children and young people in situations of personal and social risk. The organization offers classes in music, voice, violin, viola and violincelo for around 150 people. The support of the Global Giving and Pandora communities will permit the expansion of the number of young people reached, the acquisition of new instruments and improvements in the infrastructure of classrooms. Niterói - Rio de Janeiro }
Sincerely, Lenora
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