The successful Coquimbán group will be the protagonist of the fifth installment of this program, winner of the 2018 National Music Fund. This episode will be broadcast on Saturday, September 08, starting at 20:00 p.m., on Radio Universitaria 94.5 FM in La Serena and Coquimbo.

Radio Universitaria FM, station of the University of La Serena, will broadcast this week the fifth episode of its program cycle called "Our Sounds: Musical Creators of the Coquimbo Region", dedicated exclusively to the dissemination of regional authors and musicians.

This week's guests will be Tulio Guerrero and Said Abdala, founding musicians of the regional rock band Los Changos.

Started as a group that entertains university parties in Coquimbo, the Los Changos trio was originally formed with guitarist and singer Tulio Guerrero, bassist Guillermo Narváez and drummer Omar Santander, students of Environmental Civil Engineering at the ULS.

After that beginning, the band decided to take another step in music around 2004, when they began to write their own compositions. Guitarist Orlando Sánchez, who was participating in the jazz scene, joined shortly after. In this way, as a quartet, Los Changos (name obtained from the South American ethnic group of fishermen that inhabited the entire north of Chile) oriented themselves to music linked to the pre-Columbian ancestral influence and the natural environment.

The mix of roots-based music, like Los Jaivas, fused Andean, Mapuche and rock elements. Los Changos thus published the album The influence of the sea (2006), a conceptual piece focused on the relationship between the inhabitants of coastal towns and the immensity of the ocean.

From there, the group expanded its musical timbres with Said Abdala, a versatile trutruka and ethnic percussion player. In 2007, Los Changos joined the Escuelas de Rock and performed at the Rockódromo festival, which later led them to appear on the album Escuelas de rock Volumen 13 (2008) and on the Bicentenarock compilation (2009).

With a new line-up, with bassist Rodolfo Sánchez and drummer Emilio Palma, Los Changos recorded the album Espacio y tiempo (2010), the next work based on the four seasons of the annual cycle, and where the project had the collaboration of the legendary guitarist Coquimbano from Los Viking's 5, Eduardo Lalo Macuada.

According to what is stated by its members, Los Changos were born from the need of its members to express themselves through music and their roots in nature. In their lyrics, they address themes inherent to man and his interaction with the reality that surrounds him. Musically, they mix Andean-rooted folklore with rock and psychedelia.

“Our Sounds” is a project promoted by the Department of Corporate Communications of the ULS, which was the winner of the 2018 National Music Fund, Chilean Music Radio Broadcasting line.

The invitation is to tune in to this fifth episode, which will be broadcast this Saturday, September 08, starting at 20:00 p.m., through the 94.5 frequency of Radio Universitaria FM for La Serena and Coquimbo and on its online signal available at www.userena.cl.

The educational event allowed attendees to acquire new knowledge and techniques for mastering the guitar, as well as show their abilities and skills with a work of their choice.

August has not only been a month of celebrations, but it has also become a nutritious learning opportunity for many students and musicians in the conurbation. These are more than 50 attendees who responded to the invitation extended by the La Serena Regional Symphony Orchestra Foundation to participate in an interesting guitar master class, an activity with a highly educational focus and no membership fee.

The musical event was conducted by one of the most prominent performers worldwide, the Chilean concert pianist Luis Orlandini, professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and professor and current Dean of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Chile, who visited the city ​​of La Serena to share their knowledge, experiences and techniques with young talents in the Coquimbo Region.

The opportunity was deeply valued by the participants, both active and listening, who came to the offices of the Music Department of the University of La Serena to perform a piece of their choice, so that the teacher could see their abilities and skills. on the guitar, as well as correcting flaws and providing advice for better mastery of it.

After the master class given and his long experience as a teacher, Luis Orlandini related that “for many years I had heard from people, even my own students who studied here (La Serena) and then went to Santiago, that it was difficult to find people who had more dedication, so to speak, on the guitar. Today I met very interested young people, who played very well and who were well conducted; So it was a very nice and rewarding experience, since there was also a significant audience and that was very beneficial for everyone,” stressed the concert artist.

Likewise, he extended a message to all those performers who wish to continue their studies on the guitar, emphasizing that “when you want something, you have to do everything possible to achieve it. In the case of music or any type of art it is a little more complicated because one often has to fight to get a space, but it is absolutely possible. There are many people who dedicate themselves to music and the arts in general, and it is a very beautiful thing, which, moreover, allows us to have a more complete society.”

Jaime Guerrero, a Bachelor of Music student with a Major in Classical Guitar at ULS, was one of the active participants, stating that he was “very grateful for the opportunity to have participated in this master class with maestro Luis Orlandini; Without a doubt, it was an enriching and very important moment for me as a musician and instrumentalist.”

The pedagogical activity was organized by the La Serena Regional Symphony Orchestra Foundation, in coordination with the University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra and the Music Department of the higher education institution, where the academic and professor of the guitar chair, Francisco Vergara was in charge of organizing the list of participants. After the success of the class, he commented that “we talked with the students about the amount of time a guitarist had not come to La Serena to do an activity of this type. For the children it is of vital importance for their training, this allows them to consolidate the knowledge they have and is also a boost to the teachers who are here, since it serves as support for what one teaches to young people during educational training." .

Teacher Vergara also referred to the expectations of the students, as well as the academic staff of the U. de La Serena regarding the class: “the students and I loved the class, the truth is that It was super good, super attentive, and it was given as a class should always be, with instructions, suggestions and corrections if necessary. She was very good and always interesting and open to what they are listening to as well.”

It should be noted that in addition to the master class, Luis Orlandini participated as a guest soloist at the VI Seasonal Concert of the University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra, to celebrate the 474th anniversary of La Serena, where he dazzled the hundreds of attendees who They filled the city's Municipal Theater.

Source: Press Symphony Orchestra University of La Serena

The new sound of 'The Symphony of Cultures' joined the celebrations of the colonial city with works by Arriaga, Rodrigo, López-Chavarrí, Granados and Chabrier.

A night marked by the subtle and sublime is the one that was experienced at the Municipal Theater of the regional capital together with the University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra and the brilliant performance of two great masters of music, the national soloist Luis Orlandini and one of the most internationally acclaimed conductors, the American conductor David Händel, who joined the celebrations of the 474 years of life of the colonial city with the long-awaited and colossal Anniversary Concert.

The program belonging to a new sound of 'The Symphony of Cultures' was named 'Aires of Spain', in homage to the second oldest city in Chile, founded in 1544 as 'Villanueva de La Serena'. The event brought together municipal, university and cultural authorities of the region, as well as families, tourists and regular attendees of the various musical programs of the professional ensemble of the Estrella Region, who were captivated by the bold repertoire and the interpretation of the musicians.

For Daniel Redón, a Spaniard who has lived in Chile for three years, the VI Concert of the 2018 Season marked a very special personal moment for him: “since we lived in La Serena we have come to almost all of the orchestra's concerts, we always enjoy classical music, but in this case it is a little more special; First, I was surprised because I didn't know that this concert would be focused on 'Los Aires de España'; With music you remember a little bit of your origins and the truth is that it is very exciting to be here, the truth is (…). In fact, today is also a farewell since we only have three months left in Chile, and for 'Aires de España' to play when our stay is coming to an end is really very emotional," the assistant continued.

For her part, Georgina García, highlighted the tribute paid by the professional group to the 'city of Los Campanarios': “it is tremendously important to be able to attend such a magnificent level of spectacle and with artists as virtuous as those tonight; Listening to what our orchestra looks like with these great musicians is truly a pleasure. Furthermore, I think it is very important that the University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra always makes alliances with its town and with the Municipality of La Serena, and even more so, celebrating a new year for our city.”

On this occasion, the event dazzled with colossal sounds from the European continent, such as the Overture 'The Happy Slaves' by classical music composer Juan Arriaga; 'Valencian Watercolors' by Eduardo López-Chavarrí; Dance N°6 'Jota' by the Spanish composer, pianist and pedagogue, Enrique Granados; 'Rapsodia España' by Frenchman Emmanuel Chabrier, and 'Fantasía para un gentleman' by Joaquín Rodrigo, along with the brilliant performance of the guest soloist on guitar, Luis Orlandini, who referred to his presentation at the Teatro Municipal de La Serena: “I I felt very well received by the orchestra, a very nice job was done with them and with the conductor Händel. As for the concert, it was really great because there was a very large audience and the reception was very warm,” said the musician and professor at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Chile and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.

Faced with the gratitude and applause of the attendees, the renowned American conductor commented that “here in La Serena there is always a very receptive group that supports the symphony. They are musicians who play wonderfully and whom I have known for quite some time, they work very well and are capable of showing quite demanding works. “I feel very happy with how the program came out and it is a joy for me to be directing a new birthday concert for La Serena.” Regarding sharing the stage with the outstanding Chilean guitarist, Händel said that “it is the first time that I have the pleasure of working with maestro Orladini and I was able to realize that he is a first-rate professional, he is a person with whom you can work seriously. and serenity, and it was really very pleasant to work together; Furthermore, we get along very well,” he added.

It should be noted that this season has the support and financing of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, through Glosa de Presupuesto Nacional since 2016, and the sponsorship of the United States Embassy in Chile, added to the collaboration provided by the University of La Serena and the Illustrious Municipality of La Serena, through its Department of Culture and the Municipal Theater.

These days, the group belonging to the Network of Professional Regional Orchestras of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage is carrying out important activities aimed at the public, including the Orchestral Conducting Course with maestro David Händel and the VII Concert of Season (September 14).

Source: Press Symphony Orchestra University of La Serena

Gustavo Araya, director and founder of the Serena folkloric group, will be the fourth guest of “Our Sounds”, a cultural space created by the radio station of the University of La Serena, thanks to financing from the 2018 National Music Fund. The program will be broadcast this Saturday, August 25 starting at 20:00 p.m. on 94.5 FM in La Serena and Coquimbo.

Radio Universitaria FM, station of the University of La Serena, will broadcast this week the fourth chapter of its program cycle called "Our Sounds: Musical Creators of the Coquimbo Region", a space dedicated exclusively to the dissemination of regional authors and musicians.

In the fourth edition of this program, the professor and regional singer-songwriter Gustavo Araya, founder and director of the Lican Antay folklore group, will participate as a guest, who will tell part of the history of the Serenense group and, in addition, will share musical pieces from the 11 albums that they have edited to date.

The Lican Antay group emerged in the city of La Serena in 2003. Lican Antay literally means ''people of the village'', and is the word in the Kunza language that refers to the Atacameña culture, located in the province of El Loa, in the second region of Chile.  

Since its inception, this musical group has dedicated itself to creating, recreating, performing and disseminating musical manifestations typical of the Latin American tradition, placing special emphasis on the customs of the people of the Andean highlands, thereby demonstrating a deep respect and admiration for the original communities.

This ensemble has intense musical activity, with performances in different settings, both in La Serena and in the rest of the country, as well as abroad, in addition to receiving numerous awards, such as first place in the Luis Advis National Composition Competition on year 2015 in the Folkloric Root Music category; They were also nominated for the 2017 Pulsar Awards in the category Dissemination of Music of Native Peoples, with their album “Permanecemos”.

Added to his extensive phonographic production is the ongoing recording of a new album, in collaboration with Osvaldo Torres, a Chilean musician living in France, who was one of the founders of the group Illapu.

“Our Sounds” is conducted by Rodrigo Gutiérrez, in addition to the musical production of Daniela Banderas, an academic from the ULS Department of Music, who has selected the nine musical creators who are part of this project promoted by the Department of Communications Corporate of the ULS, winner of the 2018 National Music Fund, Chilean Music Radio Broadcasting line, within the framework of the work to celebrate the 55 years of existence of Radio Universitaria FM.

The invitation is to tune in to this program, which will be broadcast this Saturday, August 25, starting at 20 p.m., through the 94.5 frequency of Radio Universitaria FM for La Serena and Coquimbo, and on its online signal available at www.userena.cl.

This year the musical proposal is called 'Aires de España', which will celebrate a new year in the regional capital.

The second oldest city in Chile is celebrating its birthday and the University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra did not want to be absent from this great festivity for the commune and its people. That is why the musicians of the professional ensemble are preparing to offer a bold anniversary concert called: 'Aires of Spain', together with the mastery and interpretation of two outstanding figures of international renown.

This is the VI Concert of the Season of 'The Symphony of Cultures', a program dedicated with special affection to the 'city of Los Campanarios', in which the public will witness sounds as sublime as they are subtle, such as the Overture ' The happy slaves' by classical music composer Juan Arriaga, 'Fantasía para un genteel hombre' by Joaquín Rodrigo, along with the dazzling presentation of the guest guitar soloist, Luis Orlandini. Then the piece 'Acuarelas Valencianas' by Eduardo López-Chavarrí, Danza N°6 'Jota' by the Spanish composer, pianist and pedagogue, Enrique Granados, and the work 'Rapsodia España' by Frenchman Emmanuel Chabrier will be brought to life.

On this occasion, La Serena's anniversary concert will be conducted by one of the most praised conductors in the world, American conductor David Händel, acclaimed on all four continents for his passionate musical leadership and abilities to energize both orchestras and audiences. being widely recognized as one of the most significant and influential emerging directors. Faced with this new presentation in the Estrella Region, the director maintains that “it is not the first time that I have the honor of directing a concert to celebrate the anniversary celebrations of La Serena, a city as historic as it is charming, something that its people define with its particular qualities and cultural background. In this sense, Spanish culture has a lot to do with its history and its sensibilities, its humor and its human aspect in general", adding that together with the symphonic group "we have developed an extremely attractive program, both for the public and for the cast musicians. It is an exquisite repertoire balanced between the subtle and sublime, and with the energetically Spanish character.”

In this presentation there will also be the guitar soloist, Luis Orlandini, who, along with his active life as a concert performer, is a professor at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Chile and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, and has premiered countless works by composers. Chileans, many of them composed for him and he has to his credit a series of editions of guitar scores by Chilean composers. He has also performed alongside artists from various countries and has participated as a jury in several international musical performance competitions, being invited to countless festivals in various nations.

Regarding the opportunity to meet again with his colleagues from the University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra and share the stage with maestro David Händel, the soloist noted that “on the one hand it is a tremendous pleasure to return to La Serena to play with this orchestra.” , I have a very nice relationship with them and I know their history since it was created and, furthermore, it is an honor and a nice opportunity to perform for the first time with this North American director, with a work that, without a doubt, is emblematic for the guitar which is 'Fantasy for a gentleman'."

The work that Orlandini will perform is inspired by the music of the baroque composer Gaspar Sanz (Spain), which has “very simple and direct” sounds, especially based on dances of the period belonging to the XNUMXth century. So, what Joaquín Rodrigo did was a rereading of this music, incorporating Sanz's main melodic themes to give a structure of a fantasy, in the manner of a concert for soloist and orchestra. It is a very beautiful work because it is also framed within the XNUMXth century movement or neoclassicism, which was like returning to certain roots, but with a renewed look,” the musician deepened.

For his part, David Händel delved into this new musical experience: “I have not had the pleasure of working with maestro Orlandini, but I am certain that our collaboration will be a very special pleasure, both for his great artistic character and for his important possibilities as a performer; but also because of the intimate musical context in which we are going to share, 'Fantasy for a Gentleman' is a work that I deeply love."

Regarding the repertoire chosen for 'Aires de España', the acclaimed conductor stated that “I have a great affinity for the Latin world, where I spend almost half the year exchanging with colleagues in different countries in the region. With more than 20 years in this geographical and cultural rhythm, at this point I already have a marked affinity for Latin American music, and of course, for Spanish music, for its unique Euro-Arabic airs, flavors and aromas, its luxurious orchestrations and colorfully conceived, where all this represents a personal passion.”

Anniversary month, celebration month

Like every new birthday of the regional capital, the Illustrious Municipality of La Serena prepares an extensive and attractive schedule of panoramas and activities around the Serena family, adding to the celebrations the VI Season Concert of the ensemble belonging to the Regional Orchestra Network Professionals from the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage.

For Mayor Roberto Jacob, “it is a pride to count among our anniversary activities the presentation of our orchestra, not only because of its professionalism and quality, but also because it reflects the legacy that maestro Jorge Peña began in the XNUMXs. Hen, to whom we recently paid a well-deserved tribute with the statue that we inaugurated in our Plaza de Armas. This orchestra is a valuable contribution to culture and, therefore, I invite the entire community to enjoy this beautiful show,” highlighted the mayor.

The concert inspired by “Los Aires de España”, in tribute to the 474 years of the city of La Serena, will take place next Friday, August 24 at 20:00 p.m. at the Municipal Theater of the regional capital. It should be noted that the event is free entry and without invitation withdrawal, so the capacity of the municipal venue will be respected for up to 400 attendees. Once its capacity has been reached, no more people will be allowed to enter. To avoid inconvenience, you are urged to be punctual and secure your seat to enjoy this presentation.

This 2018 season has the support and financing of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, through the National Budget Glosa since 2016; added to the collaboration provided by the University of La Serena, and the Illustrious Municipality of La Serena, through its Department of Culture and the Municipal Theater. This concert is possible thanks to the sponsorship of the United States Embassy in Chile.

Source: Press Symphony Orchestra University of La Serena

The musical event was starred by the Wind Ensemble of the University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra, which gave life to emblematic works by Rifo, Ginastera, Eisner, Graziani and Villa-Lobos.

Through a wonderful tribute to Latin American sounds and its greatest exponents of contemporary music, the ensemble belonging to the Network of Professional Regional Orchestras of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage began the second semester of 'The Symphony of cultures', performing two concerts in the Province of Elqui in an 'intimate as at home' format.

The third Chamber Music Concert reached the communes of Andacollo and La Serena with a program as dazzling as it was moving, led by outstanding teachers. The journey began with the Chilean percussionist, arranger, composer and orchestral director Guillermo Rifo and his work 'Quinteto 89'; and then witness the piece called 'Dúo', Op. 13 for flute and oboe by the Argentine Alberto Ginastera. Uruguay was also present at the chamber event with two famous South American musicians: Guillermo Eisner and his piece 'Esquinas', for flute, video and electronics, and Gabriel Graziani (Uruguay-Paraguay) with 'El lamento de Petrona' for solo oboe . Finally, the symphonic evening culminated with two works by the Brazilian Heitor Villa-Lobos: 'Bachiana Brasileira N°6' for flute and bassoon, and 'Quinteto en forma de choro'.

The Wind Ensemble composed of the performers: José Luis Urquieta (oboe), Rodrigo López (flute), Andrés Pallero (clarinet), Alevi Peña (bassoon) and Gerson Pierotti (French horn), offered their Territorial Extension Concert in the commune mining, an instance in which they dedicated their presentation to the memory of the emblematic professor Carlos Ruíz Pérez, a teacher linked to teaching music in Andacollo for a lifetime and who unfortunately, in August 2017, was found dead inside his home .

For the Parochial School student, Angie Pastén, the presentation took on an even more emotional character: “I really liked the concert and the final work they played, it was very significant especially because they dedicated it to Professor Carlos. This is very special for me because the musical legacy he left was very important, he taught us everything we know about instruments today.” For her partner, Josefa Ortiz, violinist of the Alfonso Marcos Soriano Orchestra, “I thought the concert was very nice. Furthermore, it is a repertoire that we are a little more familiar with unlike the rest.”

Later, the performers replicated the same program at the Municipal Theater of La Serena, where attendees were able to connect with the sounds of the great references of Latin American music. For Oriana Figueroa, the concert “was beautiful, I really liked the virtuosity of the musicians, but, above all, I loved the oboe. The nuances and sounds that the musician brought out of the instrument were truly spectacular and I felt very comfortable listening to it.” For his part, Samuel Olivares, highlighted the chamber proposal offered at the municipal, “despite the fact that the repertoire was more contemporary than on other occasions, it was very pleasant to have attended and learn about new sounds and composers. The piece with video and electronics was total, I really liked that combination of music and image, I found the orchestra's new proposal striking.”

After the successful start to the second semester of concerts of the 2018 Season, the University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra is preparing to bring next Friday, August 24 to the Municipal Theater of La Serena a new and captivating musical event with a full orchestra, in commemoration of the 474 years of life of the second oldest city in Chile. This is the VI Season Concert called “Aires of Spain”, conducted by the acclaimed American director David Handel, and the brilliant performance of the guitar soloist, Luis Orlandini (Chile).

It should be noted that this presentation, like the entire 2018 season, is developed thanks to the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, from whom since 2016 it has received part of its financing through National Budget Glosa; in addition to the support provided by the University of La Serena and the Illustrious Municipality of La Serena, through its Department of Culture and the Municipal Theater.

Source: Press Symphony Orchestra University of La Serena