The event, organized and performed by the La Serena University Symphony Orchestra, brought together more than 400 people, who enjoyed a magical repertoire around solidarity.

In a special way and with a positive balance, the San Francisco de Asís Church became a witness to the long-awaited Christmas Concert given each year by the ensemble belonging to the Network of Professional Regional Orchestras of the National Council of Culture and the Arts. Presentation full of emotion and meditation, in which music and solidarity came together to collaborate with the important work carried out by Fundación Las Rosas in the territory, collecting hundreds of donations in personal hygiene items for the elderly who reside there.

Jeannette Torrealba Olmos, regional assistant of Fundación Las Rosas, La Serena headquarters, expressed on behalf of the home, those who work in it and the 98 elderly beneficiaries of this solidarity crusade, her gratitude to the professional group for the help they managed to channel to through this musical meeting, indicating that as it is a free concert and open to the local community “we made the arrangements and asked the University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra for the possibility of making, voluntarily, a contribution for our grandparents from the Visitation Home from María from Fundación Las Rosas, which was quite helpful. “We are very grateful for the valuable donations from the community and for the luxury concert that the symphony gave us.”

During the event, in addition to showing solidarity with those who need it most, attendees were able to enjoy a memorable baroque-style program, under the baton of the guest teacher, Rodrigo Tapia Salfate, who conducted the 'Orchestral Suite No. 1' by the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach, the 'Christmas Night Concerto' by violinist Arcangelo Corelli, and ended with the 'Selection of Christmas Carols of the World'.

For those present, the concert met all the expectations of this long-awaited presentation: excitement, help and meditation. For Andrea Bello, this initiative full of solidarity “was a very good idea to help those who need it most, and it would be positive if it were replicated by other people. I leave happy with what was done in this crusade, because this is how the true meaning of Christmas is lived, which is this: helping others and not being around commerce.”

While Paulina Mella indicated that this concert “is one of the most anticipated and I wanted to come. I think it was a very good song, in terms of being able to see a luxury concert and collaborate with this beautiful initiative for the grandparents; Furthermore, I like that the symphony performs in different places in the city, that makes it closer to the public.”

For his part, Pablo Urrejola said that “the concert was wonderful and exciting, and the selection of the program was brilliant. I liked it all. I have known the Universidad de La Serena Symphony Orchestra for a long time, I have gone to other concerts, and their performance is always wonderful. I highlight that they not only included the great classics of music, but also Chilean repertoire with northern roots, which was spectacular.”

It should be noted that the symphonic ensemble will culminate its musical proposal corresponding to the 2017 Season, next Friday, January 12, 2018, performing Beethoven's 9th Symphony within the framework of the closing of the XXXIII version of the 'Musical Encounters of La Serena' ( from January 8 to 12). Important musical event that will end a successful year of concerts and interventions of territorial extension, which managed to bring together millions of people around the figure of the German composer, and that at the same time, will begin a new and innovative musical proposal present during the 2018 Season, which seeks to extend the learned repertoire and musical knowledge to more inhabitants, students and educational establishments in the territory.

Source: Press Symphony Orchestra University of La Serena

The event seeks to raise the largest donation of personal hygiene items, which will go directly to help the elderly who are cared for at Fundación Las Rosas.

After achieving a successful and varied musical program throughout the 2017 Season, these days, the ensemble belonging to the Network of Regional Professional Orchestras of the National Council of Culture and the Arts is preparing the last month of the year with one of the most anticipated presentations by the local community: the Christmas Concert. Valuable opportunity for social gathering and cohesion that will have the fundamental mission of supporting and collaborating with the work that Fundación Las Rosas has been carrying out for 50 years, through a solidarity crusade that seeks to collect the largest number of personal hygiene items, such as cologne and underwear. (size M, L, XL) for older adults (women and men) who are cared for at home.

The family event will take place at the San Francisco de Asís Church, in the historic center of La Serena (Balmaceda corner Eduardo de la Barra), next Saturday, December 16 at 21:00 p.m., and hopes to attract a significant number of attendees, who will be able to enjoy an exciting baroque-style repertoire, consisting of the 'Orchestral Suite No. 1' by the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach; and then continue with the 'Christmas Night Concert' by the violinist and composer Arcangelo Corelli, and finally, the 'Selection of Christmas Carols' under the arrangements of the guest conductor, Rodrigo Tapia Salfate.

For the teacher in charge of the presentation, “these concerts are highly anticipated by the community, due to their festive content and full of emotion. On this occasion we are going to perform a varied repertoire that includes scholarly works and towards the second final part of the program, we will present in a symphonic format, European and also Latin American style Christmas pieces,” Tapia commented.

Solidarity crusade through music

The director of Fundación Las Rosas, La Serena headquarters, Ximena Salinas, expressed gratitude for the help that the professional group is providing to the 98 older adults who are cared for there, specifying that carrying out this campaign around a symphonic concert of these characteristics and in a place of retreat “it is a way to raise awareness in the community, allowing them to prepare for Christmas and live the true meaning of this holiday, and what better way to do it than to help our most helpless older brothers in the region with a necessary gift for them and that they will thank you from the bottom of their hearts.”

For his part, the executive secretary of the La Serena Regional Symphony Orchestra Foundation, Rodrigo Díaz Cuevas, referred to this important social and cooperation link that the musical group established with those who need it most, indicating that this concert responds “to our artistic mission and is very much within the spirit of recollection that Christmas inspires in us. In this framework, we wanted to contribute to Fundación Las Rosas so that all the people who attend the concert can make this valuable collaboration to the grandparents.” And he added that “within our guidelines as an orchestra, it is proposed to collaborate with social cohesion through cultural-musical inclusion, and every time we perform a concert, we think about the regional community and the people who are passing through.” for the city, and that is our goal.”

Finally, Rodrigo Tapia extended a cordial invitation to the region, with the objective that families share a pleasant musical moment with their loved ones and can collaborate with their donation to the seniors of Fundación Las Rosas: “I invite the entire community of the Coquimbo Region to give themselves the opportunity to attend and be surprised by this Christmas concert that will be held in a place as beautiful and ideal as the San Francisco Church, which makes it a good meeting moment for the family and for those who "They need it," adding that this presentation is designed "for a very intimate format, which will lead us to dream and will surely bring back some pleasant memories to more than one of the attendees, and will bring the animosity for this very spiritual party."

It should be remembered that the concert is free entry and suitable for all audiences. However, it is expected to have the help and donations of those who attend, in order to carry out a great solidarity crusade and channel the largest collection into personal hygiene items, which will go to help the hundreds of older adults who reside in the Foundation. Las Rosas, La Serena headquarters.

Source: Press Symphony Orchestra University of La Serena

The publication, whose author is the academic Silvia López de Maturana, is number 16 this year in the ULS Editorial.

With the attendance of more than 120 people, the book "Why do dogs bark? Children's epistemology - The magic of children's questions and answers" was presented, by the academic of the Department of Education of the University of La Serena, Dr. Silvia López de Maturana, published by Editorial ULS and presented in the Exhibition Hall of this house of higher education.

The ceremony began with the words of the Coordinator of the Early Childhood Education career, Dr. Yanola González, giving way to the educator Nicole Rivera, who participated in the research "The magic of questions", which gave rise to this book . Finally, the author and compiler, Dr. Silvia López de Maturana, explained that "boys and girls are brilliant, there is no doubt about it! They learn informally and holistically, they constantly question their environment, they show their plenitude, innocence and genius, they mobilize knowledge that They collect from their daily life, create strategies and have the latent capacity to learn and live in a joyful, playful, autonomous and emergent way.

The book contains a series of questions and answers prepared by the children themselves - without adult influence - from which some very surprising ones emerged, such as "What does God eat?" or "Why does sand suck up sea water?" In its second part, 31 professionals from different fields reflect on these questions and answers, having as a common denominator that THE QUESTION is at the basis of real learning.

Some of the children who participated in this research also attended the ceremony, to whom they were presented with a diploma of recognition and a book.

This publication is number 16 this year in Editorial ULS and is available in the institution's Bookstore, on the website www.editorial.userena.cl and at www.buscalibre.com (for everyone).

Source: DIVEULS press

This joint instance allows all participants to make contributions in order to make the best decisions for regional development.

In the Alejandro Covarrubias room of the Central House of the University of La Serena, a productive meeting of the working group convened by the Regional Government and incorporating the regional universities was held.

On this occasion, the regional councilors Alberto Gallardo and Carlos Galleguillos, led the meeting representing the Council, an instance where issues of special relevance to the operating objectives of this initiative were discussed and that are related to the definition of the operating structure of the table and the results obtained in the joint work recently.

In this regard, counselor Alberto Gallardo highlighted that “this regional table constitutes an important milestone in the development of the region, it is a pioneering and unique initiative in Chile, which allows universities to come together with the Regional Council and thus be able to agree on a project. regional, around a clear regional strategy. From that point of view, we have worked from our executive, plus the Council, to be able to see together what are the gravitating issues that we have to develop in this region, to focus our resources very well as a Regional Government to also develop the universities, enhance them in science, research and innovation.”

For his part, Councilor Carlos Galleguillos commented that “personally and representing the Council, I believe that it has been one of the most important tables that has been established and with a relevance that has no limits, because from my profession, as a professor I believe that the basis for being able to constitute a different country lies in education; and being able to establish ourselves with the universities, which are the ones that deliver future professionals, is key (...), that we can have this work together, Regional Government and universities, which allows us to promote a different region and society."

Finally, representing the Coordination of Liaison with the Environment of the ULS, at this table, Mg. José Mora, pointed out that "for the Directorate of Linkage with the Environment and Extension of the University of La Serena, it is a true privilege to be able to participate in this table convened by the Regional Government of Coquimbo, through its Regional Council, since the trajectory of Our institution, expressed in the consolidation of its processes of connection with the environment, research development, undergraduate and graduate teaching and management, has always been in absolute harmony with the challenges and strategies defined for the development of the community of the region".
According to the information provided by the participants, this joint work allows all guests to make their contributions in order to seek the best decisions for the development of the region, considering in a privileged way the perspective of the Universities.

Source: DIVEULS press

The ballet, created based on the story by the French author, Danièle Ball, will feature the participation of two united orchestras, plus a dance cast made up of children, young people and adults.

It was maestro Jorge Peña Hen, founder of the Experimental School of Music and the first Latin American children's orchestra, who illuminated the face of the regional community every year with original compositions, theatrical productions and Christmas events. From then until now, the artistic establishment has carried out tireless work in showing the community the artistic face of its youth, creating, year after year, hundreds of instances for the dissemination of young artistic talents and innovative productions, shows and artistic events.

Following this line, this year the Jorge Peña Hen Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, made up of young musicians from eighth grade to fourth grade, will offer the regional community the premiere of a ballet, created both for them and for interpretation by the thousands of orchestras. youth worldwide.

It is a ballet set to music based on the story “Yatiri and the Mist Fairy” by the French author, Danièle Ball. Book published by EDEBÉ publishing house and which is currently in the second year basic reading plan of hundreds of schools throughout the country, and whose success is due to a kind and magical awareness about the scarcity of water resources in Chile. The composition and artistic direction is in charge of the musical director, double bassist, composer and academic from the University of La Serena, Manuel Figueroa Bolvarán, while the choreography is carried out by the contemporary dance teacher and dancer, Vanessa Osses.   

The adaptation of a successful book

For the artistic director of the group and ULS academic, Manuel Figueroa, the search for a sufficient reason to present a large-scale show with the young musicians began at the beginning of the year and its results came naturally. “For me, the idea of ​​presenting a Ballet means returning to the community dynamics created by maestro Jorge Peña Hen in his time, that is, activities where representatives, groups, and institutions participate jointly, both in the creative aspects as in the raising of resources. Finally, the success of these experiences falls into the hands of all of us, and it is in that 'all of us' where we rescue an almost lost aspect in our modern society," Figueroa said.

“Danièle Ball's story is attractive, both for its simplicity, its visual appeal, and for the background and teaching. It is important that those who attend this premiere understand that caring for our resources is not a fairy tale, but something real that we have to worry about,” added the director of the regional group. “Danièle and her publisher were tremendously open in letting me use the story as a script for this ballet, so everything happened as magically as the story itself,” he said.

Dance and music for everyone

The objective of this ballet, as a work, is to be available to all youth and children's orchestras and dance groups in the world. According to Vanessa Osses, choreographer and director of Espacio Arte, “the objective of choreography is the materialization of history through movement, through the use of three technical levels (children, youth and adults), where each one presents a choreography. according to your level. Like text and music, dance serves as a multi-level platform, facilitating its interpretation and linking dance teachers and students.

The message behind the story

The author deals with a serious and contingent theme in the book, through a light and friendly text, adorned with beautiful graphics. In this way, Danièle Ball has managed to weave a magical and entertaining story, with the objective of raising awareness about the lack of drinking water in the country. She has managed to create an alchemy between entertainment and awareness about a big problem that threatens us all: the lack of drinking water. “In some areas, rainfall is extremely scarce, which is dramatic for the environment and agriculture, and therefore for the population. Camanchaca is not a fictitious name for the fairy, it is the real name of this fog that is specific to northern Chile and is essential for the good health of the environment,” says the author.

This activity is organized by the Jorge Peña Hen Experimental School of Music and sponsored by the La Serena Musical Educational Foundation, Illustrious Municipality of La Serena, Editorial EDEBÉ, Espacio Arte, French Institute of Chile and Alliance Française Region of Coquimbo. The concert will be performed by the Jorge Peña Hen Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and the ULS University Orchestra on Wednesday, December 13, at 20:00 p.m., at the La Serena Monumental Coliseum. There is no need to withdraw invitations and the concert is completely free.

The event included the launch of the album 'Signo Macizo', the new musical work of the composer and artistic director of the contest, Esteban Correa.

After an intense week of artistic activities, which included master classes, talks and concerts by different national and foreign groups, the MUSICAHORA Contemporary Music Festival culminated its fourteenth version with a new presentation by the Universidad de La Serena Symphony Orchestra at the Municipal Theater of the regional capital.

The development of the contest included the participation of various creators and researchers, who shared their experiences and visions of contemporary music with the attendees who came to each of the activities scheduled for this new version.

Later, during the closing of the event, the academic, artistic director of the festival and regional composer, Esteban Correa, launched his new album, called 'Signo Macizo'. A production supported by the University of La Serena and financed by the National Council of Culture and the Arts (CNCA), through the Fund for the Promotion of National Music, which allowed the public to take a copy of this interesting musical research.

“I was totally happy to have done this work, in which I had tremendous support from the orchestra, not only during this year, but during all the years in which the four works that make up it were worked on and premiered respectively,” said the musician, adding that, at the same time, this album “closes a very important personal stage as a composer, and it is very significant. I am tremendously lucky to be able to make an album with works composed for orchestra, which is something greatly desired by any composer, and that is thanks to the overwhelming support of the symphonic ensemble, the Department of Music and the University of La Serena,” he said.

After the launch, the group belonging to the Network of Regional Professional Orchestras of the CNCA put the finishing touch to the musical meeting with its IX Official Season Concert. An impeccable presentation that was directed by the guest teacher Pedro Pablo (Chile), who gave life to the Suite 'The Story of the Soldier' ​​by Igor Stravinsky, 'Traumas Discontinuas' by the Chilean of Croatian origin, Aliosha Solovera, and 'Animals of Umbrales ' by Esteban Correa, with the participation as soloist of the first oboe of the professional ensemble, José Luis Urquieta.

For the composer of this last piece, the presentation “confirms what has been seen for a long time regarding the artistic quality that the symphony orchestra and its different performers have achieved. In this case the soloist was José Luis, and what better than him, as a reflection of the level that the group and its musicians have reached in all their classical and contemporary concerts. Furthermore, I believe that the symphony is emerging as an orchestra that is increasingly specialized in performing contemporary Chilean repertoire and that is of tremendous importance, because it places it as one of the most important orchestras in Chile,” Correa stated.

Franco Carramiñana, attendant at the Municipal Theater of La Serena, highlighted the program presented at the closing of the XIV version of MUSICAHORA, commenting that “I really liked the oboist's performance and how it combined with the full orchestra in a very harmonious way. On the other hand, he rescued the work of composer Esteban Correa, regarding said work and the launch of his new album. I think his investigative and musical work is commendable.”

For her part, Andrea Mena highlighted the mission that this festival fulfills year after year, indicating that “it is really incredible that they can promote local composers and performers, since we are very used to this type of events only happening in Santiago. However, the fact that they hold a festival of these characteristics from La Serena to the rest of the country seems excellent to me. It has been a very nice experience to have witnessed this program and I find that it is a very valuable initiative, because it allows those people who perhaps do not have access to this type of shows on a daily basis, to enjoy it.”

After the successful culmination of the MUSICAHORA 2017 Contemporary Music Festival, the University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra resumes rehearsals to prepare an interesting and unmissable Christmas concert for the inhabitants of the Coquimbo Region.

To stay updated on these presentations, dates and places to visit, you just have to go to www.sinfonicalaserena.cl and find information on the Fanpage: Orquesta Sinfónica Universidad de La Serena, Twitter @sinfonicaLS and Instagram: sinfonicalaserena.

Source: Press Symphony Orchestra University of La Serena

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