Conferences on video games and Japanese customs, the traditional Tea Ceremony, the Cosplay Contest and a Gamer Tournament were some of the activities that showed part of the culture of the Japanese country.

A varied program of activities included the successful Japan Weekend organized by the Directorate of Liaison with the Environment and Extension of the University of La Serena, which included different demonstrations of Japanese culture and attracted a large number of people last weekend. .

This version presented as its first activity the conference “Japanese Video Games”, given by the journalist specializing in video games, Alejandro Alaluf, who commented that “participating in this type of event as a jury, giving talks and all that (…), was super stimulating, "It has been extremely entertaining, very fun, I actually loved it, so I really appreciate the invitation."

The programming also included the cosplay contest, an activity awaited by young lovers of Otaku culture, who showed their best work in characterization of a Japanese character, as a cosplayer and/or cosmaker. In this regard, one of the jury members, journalist Jhonnan Sepúlveda, highlighted that “it is entertaining to have this new perspective, I always come as an audience and this time as a jury (…). The cosplays are increasingly more elaborate, and I find that super good, maybe it doesn't look so pompous, but up close you see the finishes, the seams, the elements they used and I found it super good. Also, the organization was good.”

Another activity was the conference “Japan inside”, given by the Jica volunteer, Ritsuko Kohara, who showed customs and anecdotes told by a Japanese woman, also including a varied tasting of food from this country.

Added to this is the first Gamer Tournament, an event that invited video game lovers to participate in a championship in the game “Street Fighter II”. The winner was “Totoro”, the name in the gamer community of Eric Rojas, who received a giftcard for $50.000 and a trophy for his victory.

The awards ceremony for the Japanese Illustration contest was also held, where in addition to awarding the prizes corresponding to $100.000 and $50.000, participation diplomas were presented to all those who took part in the contest and an exhibition of the works was held in the Exhibition Hall of the ULS. At the ceremony, the person in charge of DIVULS Culture, Fernando Tapia, referred to this space and invited young artists to apply for the unit's annual programming, an application that remains open until this Friday, January 19 to exhibit during the Cycle. of Exhibitions 2018.

This activity to disseminate Japanese culture culminated, as every year, with the traditional Tea Ceremony, held in the Japanese Park of La Serena, “Kokoro No Niwa”, in collaboration with CAP Minería.

This Japan Weekend also had product and novelty stands on January 11 and 12, inside the Ignacio Domeyko Campus, where different products of Japanese culture, from stuffed animals to food, were exhibited and marketed to the general public.

Photographs and different records of activities can be reviewed through social networks: Facebook centroextensionuls, Twitter @extension_uls or on the website extension.userena.cl.

Source: DIVEULS press

The massive presentation began a new version of the summer Musical Meetings, developed since 1985 in the city of La Serena.

With more than thirty uninterrupted years under the baton of the Jorge Peña Hen Youth Symphony Orchestra and 50 years as an academic at the University of La Serena and the establishment, maestro Hugo Domínguez Cruzat stood on the podium for the last time to conduct more than 120 musicians on stage at the colossal opening of the summer Musical Meetings.

After an impeccable career as a musician, academic and orchestral director, Domínguez took voluntary retirement, culminating his great work with an emotional concert with the youth orchestra, made up of students from 1st to 4th grade of the Jorge Experimental School of Music Peña Hen, plus the participation of the former students who were part of said group in their different generations, with whom he performed the 'Swan Lake Ballet Suite' and the 'Solemn Overture 1812, Op.49' by the composer PI Tchaikovsky , in addition to the works 'Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2' by Franz Lizt and the 'Carmen Opera Suite' by George Bizet.

After the long-awaited reunion, the teacher indicated that the presentation was marked by emotion and full of gratitude: “I had the great opportunity to do my last concert with my beloved students and many of the former students who passed through the Jorge Peña Youth Orchestra. Hen. From the call to participate, the call was truly spectacular and I am extremely excited for the musicians who were part of my farewell and the recognition of the people,” expressed an emotional Hugo Domínguez.

Meanwhile, for the Academic Vice-Rector of the ULS, Dr. Jorge Catalán Ahumada, the successful realization of these “Musical Encounters are the exceptional framework for a musical career, also exceptional, of a great academic from the University of La Serena such as Hugo Dominguez. He leaves a great legacy, and here there are many people who one day were a disciple of this great teacher," adding that this concert marked "a wonderful day for the region, for our house of studies and, why not say it, for the country." , being an act of high significance.”

Fabiola Apablaza, attendee at the La Serena Monumental Coliseum, commented that “I had the privilege of having my three children be part of the Youth Symphony Orchestra, but more important and gratifying is that they were guided by his baton, for the delivery of so many works, the learning of teamwork, the respect instilled among their colleagues, and all that love and dedication is priceless,” explained the manager. For her part, Sonia Castro, indicated that “it was a nice farewell to the great teacher. They played like never before, everything was extremely beautiful and exciting.”

Musical Encounters 2018

The traditional local event organized by the Department of Music of the University of La Serena and the La Serena Regional Symphony Orchestra Foundation, will culminate its thirty-third version this Friday, January 12, at 21:00 p.m., with the magnanimous Ninth Symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven, in the Cathedral Church of La Serena.

The closing of these summer Musical Encounters will be carried out by the University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra, with the direction of another outstanding orchestra director, José Luis Domínguez Mondragón, son of the great maestro, who will put the finishing touch to this new and successful version. Within the program, the ensemble belonging to the Network of Regional Professional Orchestras of the National Council of Culture and the Arts, will feature the dazzling voices of the guest soloists: Patricia Cifuentes (soprano), Evelyn Ramírez and Gonzalo Tomckowiack (tenor) and Homero Pérez (baritone), and the ULS Symphonic Choir, under the direction of the renowned regional tenor, Gonzalo Tomckowiack.

The 2018 Musical Encounters are a free intervention and available to the public. In addition, they are sponsored by the Rectorate of the ULS and the National Council of Culture and the Arts (CNCA), through the Cultural Donations Law.

Source: Press Symphony Orchestra University of La Serena

The program began this Wednesday, January 3, with the delivery and inauguration ceremony of Koinobori, a donation from the Japanese country for the La Serena Japanese Park.

After a decade carrying out the Friendship Week between Chile and Japan, the Directorate of Liaison with the Environment and Extension of the University of La Serena, invites on this occasion the first Japan Weekend ULS - 2018, which will take place from the 11th and until January 13 with a varied program of activities related to Japanese culture.

The first of these activities was the delivery ceremony and at the same time inauguration of Koinobori in the Japanese Park of La Serena.
The program of activities to share Japanese culture includes the conference “Japanese video games: avant-garde and trend” on Thursday, January 11, which will be given by the technology journalist, Alejandro Alaluf, from 11:30 a.m. in the ULS Exhibition Hall, Benavente 950, La Serena, (free entry); Later, at 18:30 p.m., the VI ULS Cosplay Contest will be held, where participants are already registered and the competition will take place in the Aula Magna ULS, located at Benavente 980, with a general admission of $1.000.

On Friday, January 12, at 11:30 a.m., the conference “Japan inside: customs and anecdotes told by a Japanese” will be held, which will be given by the Jica volunteer, Ritsuko Kohara, in the ULS Exhibition Hall . Later, at 14:00 p.m., the First Gamer Tournament, “Street Fighter II”, is scheduled in the Aula Magna ULS, with free entry. Finally, the II Japanese Illustration Contest, awards and exhibition will be held in the Exhibition Hall, with free entry.

Meanwhile, Saturday, January 13, is considered a new “Tea Ceremony” in the Japanese Park “Kokoro No Niwa” in La Serena. Entry is free, upon withdrawal of the invitation.

This Japan Weekend will also have product and novelty stands on January 11 and 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m., located inside the Ignacio Domeyko Campus.

For more information contact email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., by phone 2204171 or through social networks: Facebook centroextensionuls, Twitter @extension_uls or on the website extension.userena.cl.

Source: DIVEULS press

A large family of carp fish can be seen from the different places of “Kokoro No Niwa” or Garden of the Heart.

As the initial activity of the Japan Weekend ULS program, the inauguration and delivery ceremony of Koinobori was held, a family of carp fish flags handcrafted by the Japanese company Tokunga Koinobori and delivered as a donation, through the University of La Serena , to the Japanese Garden of CAP Minería. These flags are a symbol of healthy and strong children, since these fish usually swim against the current.

The Koinobori set, made and hand-dyed by the artisans of the Tokunga Koinobori factory, was officially delivered in November 2017 to the government of the province of Okayama in Japan to be sent to Chile and subsequently donated to CAP Minería, the company responsible for the creation and administration of the Japanese Garden “Kokoro No Niwa” in La Serena.

The traditional Japanese flags make up the typical Koinobori, which is raised during the celebration dedicated to children "Kodomo No Hi" and includes, from the top to the bottom of the mast, a pair of wheels with arrowheads, a spherical paddle, a windsock in the shape of a flying dragon, one black Koinobori and one red. If there are children in the family, one blue, one green is added, and then, depending on the region, other members are added.

In this regard, the Rector of the University of La Serena, Dr. Nibaldo Avilés, along with thanking those who managed to make this delivery, also congratulated CAP Minería, who are in charge of the park, because it is a wonderful job they are doing. ; Without a doubt, it represents great affection for their work, so I congratulate those who are constantly concerned and allow this beautiful view of such an important garden, such as our Japanese Park.”

For his part, the People and Sustainability Manager of CAP Minería, Archivaldo Ambler, highlighted: “I would like to thank Kokoro No Niwa for receiving us all, for receiving us with a big heart and taking the words of those who were its managers in terms of design. and construction, they gave it this name as a result of the beautiful work that allowed the hearts of Chile and Japan to come together. As CAP Minería, we provide with this garden a space that makes Japanese culture known, provides a green lung of peace and tranquility and, without a doubt, contributes to tourism in our region.”

Finally, the Director of Liaison with the Environment and Extension of the ULS, Dr. Catalina Cvitanic, emphasized the alliance of DIVEULS and CAP Minería: “Thanks to the sponsorship of CAP Minería we have been able to carry out the Tea Ceremony and other artistic activities in this wonderful park for the last 10 years. Our Management values ​​and appreciates this alliance that allows both Institutions to recreate and disseminate Japanese culture, which undoubtedly contributes positively to our community. We would also like to thank those who have made the installation of this Japanese symbol possible, which not only contributes to the beauty of the environment but also gives us a valuable message.”

This activity marks the beginning of the first Japan Weekend ULS - 2018, which will take place between January 11 and 13 with a varied program of activities related to Japanese culture.

The Japanese Garden will also mark the closing of the program with the traditional activity of the Tea Ceremony, to be held next Saturday, January 13, at 12:00 hrs., where this significant ritual, considered one of the most traditional customs, will be recreated. important parts of Japanese culture.

Source: DIVEULS press

The event contemplates the participation of various national ensembles, and promises a colossal closing around the figure of Beethoven.

With a varied program and a large number of artists on stage, the Department of Music of the University of La Serena together with the La Serena Regional Symphony Orchestra Foundation are fine-tuning the last details to turn the regional capital, once again, into the stage for the Summer Musical Encounters, from January 8 to 12.

The long-awaited and traditional local event, supported by the Rectory of the state campus, is in its thirty-third version, and will feature the participation of various regional and national groups, who will offer everything from chamber music concerts to choral repertoire and new proposals on stage. . In a special way, the event will culminate with Ludwig van Beethoven's ninth symphony, performed by the ensemble belonging to the Network of Professional Regional Orchestras of the National Council for Culture and the Arts, in the company of the ULS Symphony Choir and guest soloists, for reasons of end the 2017 Season and start the 2018 Season.

Five days of good music

This new version of the summer Musical Meetings will begin next Monday, January 8, at 21:00 p.m., with the inaugural concert by the Jorge Peña Hen Youth Symphony Orchestra, made up of students from the Experimental School of Music and directed by maestro Hugo Domínguez Cruzat, who will perform the 'Swan Lake Ballet Suite' and the 'Solemn Overture 1812, Op.49' by composer PI Tchaikovsky; in addition to the works 'Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2' by Franz Lizt and the 'Carmen Opera Suite', by George Bizet.

The activities continue by the innovative duo of musicians made up of Santiago Kuschnir and Ska Cuturrufo Pierotic: 'TA! Another percussion'. The musicians will present their percussion show and dialogue with the scene, mixed with a wide range of instruments, rhythms and images that immerse the viewer in an atmosphere that captivates and surprises. The event will be at the Centenario Theater in La Serena, on Tuesday, January 9 at 12:00 p.m.

Later, at 21:00 p.m., the Municipal Theater of La Serena will become the stage for the Baroque Orchestra 'La Extravagante', a group formed in 2017 with the purpose of promoting the musical interpretation of the baroque under historically informed criteria. . As for the program, the orchestra will perform classical masters of the German Baroque, such as GP Telemann, JS Bach and G. F Händel.

Given this first participation in the summer Musical Meetings, the musical director of the 'La Extravagante' Orchestra, Tatiana Espinoza, stated that as it is an emerging group, “for us it is very important that they have considered us to participate in this important event. and which has been carried out for many years in the region", adding that "this platform is a great opportunity to reach more people and show the work we have done together with other members of the orchestra, in the rescue of the European baroque repertoire. There was significant interest from many people in the Music Department to work on this program, which is historically documented and informed, and in which we worked on how it could have sounded at that time, since there are no recordings, but there are written records. how it could have been interpreted and we base ourselves on that to make our music,” Espinoza explained.

On Wednesday, January 10 at noon, the Teatro Centenario de La Serena will once again be the scene of a new chamber music concert; on this occasion, by the guitarist Manuel Macías and the Guitar Ensemble of the Department of Music of the University of La Serena, who will offer 'Fantasía in D Major' by David Kellner, 'Fantasía Op.30' by Fernando Sor, 'Esquinas Op.68' by Juan Orrego Salas, 'Julia Florida' by Agustín Barrios' and 'Praise of the Dance' by Leo Brouwer, as well as 'Estampas' by Federico Moreno Torroba and ' Gracias a la vida' and 'La jardinera' by Violeta Parra with arrangements by Francisco Vergara.

Later, at 21:00 p.m., it is the turn of the presentation of the 'University Orchestra' of the University of La Serena by its director, Manuel Figueroa-Bolvarán, who will offer a program called 'Symphonic Dances of the World', which includes the pieces: 'Sensemayá' by Silvestre Revueltas, 'Danzón N° 2' by Arturo Márquez, 'Danzas Polovetsianas' from the opera "Prince Igor" by Alexander Borodin and, finally, the well-known dances from the suite 'Estancia' by the Argentine Alberto Ginastera. The concert will be at the Municipal Theater of La Serena.

On Thursday, January 11, is the Chamber Music Concert of 'D' entraña Cantera', a group formed in 2017 by the musicians Daniela Banderas (palahuito), Vanessa Flores (Chilean rabel), Mathias Rojas (guitar and Colombian tiple), Raúl 'Talo' Pinto (Creole harp and cueca tambourine), Mauricio Álvarez (Mexican guitar and Colombian tiple) and Gabriel Gálvez (compositions and voice), who seek to connect with the Orphic heritage, trying to restore the ancient link between poetry, singing and spirituality. 'D' entraña Cantera' will be presented at 12:00 p.m. at the Centenario Theater in La Serena.

After this presentation, at 21:00 p.m., the Municipal Theater of the regional capital will receive the La Serena Chamber Choir, which under the direction of Eduardo Enrique Gajardo, will give a diverse program to the local community consisting of poems and works such as 'Arriba en la cordillera' by Patricio Manns, 'Sonetos de la muerte I' by Gabriela Mistral, 'Norte Grande' by Sofanor Tobar, 'Lejos del Amor' by Luis Alberto Valdivia and Roberto Márquez, among other adaptations for female choirs and masculine.

Finally, the 2018 Musical Encounters will culminate around the important figure of the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, and the performance of his magnanimous 'Ninth Symphony in D Minor, Op.125', as a way to close with a flourish the successful season of concert that the Universidad de La Serena Symphony Orchestra had during 2017, and also give way to an ambitious, inclusive and multicultural 2018 Season. This presentation will be conducted by maestro José Luis Domínguez Mondragón, a Chilean musician residing in the United States, the dazzling voices of the ULS Symphonic Choir and the guest soloists: Patricia Cifuentes (soprano), Evelyn Ramírez and Gonzalo Tomckowiack (tenor) and Homero Pérez (baritone).

Given this, Mario Arenas Navarrete, Director of the Music Department and president of the La Serena Regional Symphony Orchestra Foundation, commented that in musical terms “putting together this type of works is a tremendous challenge for any institution and, particularly, the Music Department is “He is very proud of all the efforts and work carried out by the La Serena University Symphony Orchestra and the great soloists, who will present nothing more and nothing less than Beethoven's 9th Symphony.”

The presentation will take place on Friday, January 12, at 21:00 p.m., in the Iglesia Catedral de La Serena.

goodbye to the teacher

It should be noted that the inauguration of this new version will be full of emotion, since in a special way, the Youth Symphony Orchestra will perform its repertoire in the company of former students who were part of the youth ensemble in their different generations. The reunion of the musicians will be held to bid farewell to the great maestro Hugo Domínguez Cruzat, who, for more than thirty years, has served uninterruptedly as a teacher and director of the youth cast, and who will complete his duties in 2018, this being , his last participation in the Summer Musical Meetings.

In the words of Maestro Domínguez and because “I am doing the paperwork for my retirement, this will be the last opportunity I have to meet with many students who passed through the Jorge Peña Hen Youth Orchestra, with whom I have beautiful memories and we have invited them to join this concert. The response has been truly spectacular and I am extremely excited by the number of alumni who participated, doubling the number of musicians in the orchestra in this, which will be my last direction at the La Serena Musical Encounters,” he expressed excitedly.

For his part, Arenas indicated that “as it is Maestro Domínguez's last concert, it means that these Musical Encounters are marked by the affective and emotion that overwhelms us, concluding his long and valuable career in the Music Department. Maestro Domínguez has been a very important person for the Jorge Peña Hen Experimental School of Music, and the work he did during these long years in the Youth Symphony Orchestra has been very important.”

The Summer Musical Encounters are a free intervention available to the public, organized by the Department of Music of the University of La Serena and the La Serena Regional Symphony Orchestra Foundation, and sponsored by the National Council of Culture and the Arts ( CNCA), through the Cultural Donations Law.

Source: La Serena University Symphony Orchestra

The program includes workshops for boys and girls between 8 and 17 years old, and from $5.000.

A new version of the Children's University has been prepared by the University of La Serena, through its Directorate of Liaison with the Environment and Extension, which will take place from January 9 to 19, 2018. On this occasion , the program includes vocational workshops in the areas of kinesiology, mathematics and audiovisuals, as well as recreational workshops in the sports branch.

Various and entertaining activities, aimed at boys and girls who are looking for an educational panorama, but above all entertaining panoramas for these vacations, will be carried out in the facilities of the courses or physical spaces related to the area to be worked on, such as the laboratories. of Kinesiology or the Gymnasium of the Andrés Bello Campus, and directed by academics from the state campus.

As usual, the main objective is to publicize what some careers are about, show their laboratories and allow students to get to know the University of La Serena from the inside, as part of a vocational or artistic course. The scheduled workshops are “Induction to Anatomy for Health Careers”, “Recreational Mathematics”, “Analysis of human posture through a movement laboratory, “Audiovisual workshop for boys and girls” and “Sports games”.

The courses have different values, starting at $5.000, and the ages are between 8 and 17 years old depending on each workshop. Registration will take place from Friday, December 22 to January 8 at the ULS Extension Center, located at Calle Los Carrera 207, La Serena.

For more information contact email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., by phone 2204171 or through social networks: Facebook centroextensionuls, Twitter @extension_uls or on the website extension.userena.cl.

Source: DIVEULS press