Thanks to the successful management of the director of this unit, the “Nagoyaka” reading room is expected to reopen during the month of May. 

For several years, the University of La Serena, and in particular the Extension Directorate, has developed close ties with Japanese culture, such is the case of the Friendship Week between Chile and Japan that is held once a year and other activities aimed at all those interested in said culture. For this reason, the director of the unit, for some time now, has been taking steps to get a volunteer from the programof JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) joins the Extension Center and reopens the Japanese reading room, in addition to other cultural exchange activities. 

This situation is a reality since JICA has accepted the request from the University of La Serena and it is expected that in the last days of April, a volunteer from the Japanese country will become part of the ULS team. The JICA authorities in Chile, Eduardo Quiroz, coordinator of the Program Department, and Mitsuhiro Yamada, coordinator of the Volunteer Program, visited the offices and met with the director of ULS Extension, Dr. Catalina Cvitanic. 

In this regard, Mitsuhiro Yamada referred to the presence of volunteers in Chile and in the world. “In Japan we want to help developing countries, because that helps to grow peace in the world (…). Peace is the most important thing, that is why we send volunteers to help improve other countries and the lives of people in another country,” he highlighted.

The volunteer Kayoko Shinomiya would be in charge of giving Japanese classes, taking care of the “Nagoyaka” reading room and various cultural activities that will be scheduled when she is already in the region. 

The JICA program sends around 2 volunteers per year to approximately 80 countries around the world. In Chile there are currently 13 volunteers in different parts of the country and to date almost 270 volunteers have already worked in the 20 years that the project has been running. 

Regarding the details of activities, the community can obtain information starting in May at the Extension Center, located at Prat 446, La Serena, by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 2204171. 

Source: Press Extension Direction

The exhibition will remain open to the public until April 7.

Various techniques, such as drawing, painting, photography and engraving, make up the exhibition that will inaugurate the 2015 cycle of the ULS Exhibition Hall. The exhibition, titled “Sanjuaninos in La Serena”, will present the work of academics from the Faculty of Philosophy, Humanities and Arts of the National University of San Juan, Argentina.

Next Wednesday, March 18, at 18:00 p.m., within the framework of the XXXIV anniversary of the University of La Serena, the exhibition will be inaugurated, whose objective is to promote exchange and artistic work between visual artists from San Juan and the University of La Serena to strengthen cultural ties in the region.

This group exhibition will show the work of academics from the Department of Visual Arts of the Faculty of Philosophy, Humanities and Arts of the National University of San Juan, who have participated in numerous group exhibitions in the neighboring country. 

In this regard, the person in charge of culture at the ULS Extension Directorate, Fernando Tapia, referred to the exhibition and invited the inauguration and the duration of the exhibition. “We are going to have a very attractive exhibition in terms of assembly and also because it marks the beginning of a cultural exchange between the University of San Juan and the University of La Serena (…). “I leave the invitation open so that the university community and also the local community can visit this exhibition where we are going to have an exclusive selection of academics from the Faculty of Philosophy, Humanities and Arts of the National University of San Juan,” he expressed. 

“Sanjuaninos en La Serena” will be open to the public from Monday to Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 14:00 p.m. and from 16:00 p.m. to 18:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 14:00 p.m. and from 16:00 p.m. to 17:30 p.m., from Thursday, March 19 to April 7, in the ULS Exhibition Hall, Campus Ignacio Domeyko, Benavente N°950, La Serena.

Source: Press Extension Direction 

For this purpose, the unit has provided a web address where proposals can be entered.

A massive invitation to academics and professionals of the institution is being made by the ULS Extension Directorate so that interested parties can present their university extension projects. The objective is to work together to bring academic work to the community, through an annual program open to the community. 

The Extension Directorate seeks the integration of the University with the regional, national and international community, at the different levels of university work, promoting values, extending its work and making it present in the social, cultural and productive life of the region and the country. . That is why one of its main functions is to show the research, studies and experience that the institution's academics have, through different activities, such as: conferences, workshop cycles, concerts, exhibitions, symposiums, workshops. for the Universidad de Los Ninos, among others. 

On this occasion, the Extension Directorate has extended the invitation to all those interested in taking the university beyond the classrooms, which is beneficial for both stakeholders, since it is an important instance of feedback. 

In this regard, the Director of Extension, Dr. Catalina Cvitanic, referred to the benefits of working with this unit. “The task of carrying out efficient university extension is simplified for academics and professionals, because we have the appropriate infrastructure and the necessary personnel to coordinate activities. It is also important to highlight that academics can include these extension hours in their academic performance agreement, in this way they are given the possibility of materializing their initiatives with the support and experience of the Extension Directorate, the academic only has to prepare their presentation and present it,” he emphasized. 

For more information and questions regarding the invitation, go to the ULS Extension Center, located at Prat 446, La Serena, call 2204171 or write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Source: Press Extension Direction

The group will perform the first of its presentations this year as part of the celebration of the 34 years of the study house.

“Latin America and its songs” is the title of the concert offered by the Chamber Orchestra of the University of La Serena, an artistic cast supported by the Extension Directorate, which will be presented next Tuesday, March 17, at 19:00 p.m. in the Aula Magna Ignacio Domeyko, with free entry. The activity, framed in the commemoration of the XXXIV anniversary of the ULS, is aimed at the entire university community and the general public.

Among the purposes of the new management of the Extension Directorate is to promote musical development and to achieve this, a program of musical activities is being promoted based on the strengths that the institution has. Several academics from the Department of Music have joined this initiative, in order to develop their extension activity, through the formation of the Chamber Orchestra of the University of La Serena, thus responding to the need to show their academic work. and link the University with the regional and national environment. 

Since the beginning of its presentations, the Orchestra has had an excellent response from the public, which has been very well received by the artists and motivates them to consider new challenges. "We were surprised at the January concert that we did at the Extension Center because we had a fairly large response from the public and that urges us to continue working, hopefully for the activities that we are programming during the year the public will continue to accompany us, visit us and be with us,” said José Urquieta, coordinator of the Orchestra.

The closest date for their presentations is this Tuesday, March 17, where the concert “Latin America and its songs” will be presented, as part of the activities carried out to mark the anniversary of the ULS. This presentation will be directed by Martín Herrera, and will feature the participation of the tenor soloist Gonzalo Tomckowiack. On the occasion, typical pieces from the continent will be performed, such as: “Diabladas del Norte”, “Alfonsina y el Mar”, “ Gracias a la Vida” and “Taquito militar”, among other works from different Latin American countries. 

This new presentation has a special meaning for its members, according to what José Urquieta stated. “For us it is really a tremendous pleasure as the Chamber Orchestra, a new group, which was only formed last year at the end of the year, to be able to participate in the official events of the anniversary of the University of La Serena, so we announce this concert “With great pleasure for the entire university community and also the city.”

For more information about this activity, the community can contact the ULS Extension Center, located at Prat 446, La Serena, call 2204171 or write to the email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Source: Press Extension Direction

Alejandro Meléndez, a professor in the ULS Department of Music, described directing an orchestra in New York as a challenge.

In the Assembly Hall of Hunter College in New York, United States, The Hunter Symphony Orchestra will perform on Wednesday, March 25, a group that will be directed by the academic of the Music Department of the University of La Serena, Alejandro Meléndez.

The musician pointed out that it is the first time that he has professionally conducted an orchestra abroad, being an opportunity for exchange and creation of ties with music education entities in the United States. “In addition, the possibility of conducting an orchestra in New York, a city full of artistic expressions, is an important challenge,” added the ULS horn professor.

Regarding the program, Meléndez specified that music from different Latin American composers (El Salvador, Uruguay, Peru, Argentina and Chile) was rescued, editions provided by “important libraries and music archives in the United States. It should be noted that I will also perform a horn concerto composed by ULS student Joan Capetillo.”

The possibility of directing this prestigious group arose from a call for competition in 2013 carried out by the program to promote Ibero-American music "Ibermusicas". On that occasion, the call was regarding an exchange of directors with the United States entity CODA (College Orchestra Directors Association) and Ibermúsicas. After a selection of the applications, Ibermusicas and CODA determined this exchange between Hunter College in New York and the University of La Serena, through their respective orchestras. The CODA association brings together orchestra conductors from more than 200 universities in that country. 

As part of this exchange, the director of The Hunter Symphony Orchestra, Reuben Blundell, will have the mission of conducting a seasonal concert with the La Serena University Symphony Orchestra in the month of June of this year in La Serena.

The group plans to perform nearly fifty concerts throughout the year.

Next Friday, March 20 at 20:00 p.m. At the Municipal Theater of the regional capital, the University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra will officially begin its 2015 Concert Season, which will feature the presence of important conductors - both national and international - as well as outstanding soloists, all members of the orchestra.

This first concert is part of the commemoration of the XXXIV Anniversary of the University of La Serena and will be directed by the young Chilean director Francisco Núñez. In addition, it will have the presence of the outstanding cornist of the University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra, Gabriel Zárate, who will perform the “Concerto for Horn in D Major” by GF Telemann; The works “Cerro Chena, Estación de la Memoria” by Chilean composer René Silva, a work awarded second place in the Luis Advis composition competition (2015), and “Symphony No. 5” by German composer Ludwig van Beethoven will also be performed.

During this season, the ULS Symphony Orchestra plans to perform around fifty concerts, contained in an Official Season at the Municipal Theater of La Serena, Intercommunal Extension Concerts (to be held in the provinces of Elqui, Limarí and Choapa), Didactic Concerts and Educational Extension (in establishments in La Serena and Coquimbo, as well as in the ULS Music Department Auditorium), Galas or special events for both public and private organizations and, in addition, for the second consecutive year, the holding of the Conducting Course by American director David Händel. All of the above marks an important presence and consolidation of the Symphony Orchestra of the University of La Serena in the Coquimbo Region. 

An important point to highlight is the incorporation of Chamber Concerts as part of the 2015 Season, with four dates distributed throughout the year. In this way, different musical groups made up of musicians from the Orchestra will delight the public with their wonderful performances.

Likewise, this year 2015 the group will have the opportunity to work with prominent national directors, including Francisco Núñez, Lautaro Mura, Rodrigo Tapia and Pablo Carrasco, as well as renowned foreign directors such as André Muniz (Brazil), Reuben Bundell (Australia) and David Händel (USA). At the same time, among the soloists who this year will accompany the Universidad de La Serena Symphony Orchestra, the presence of regional musicians and members of the orchestra should be highlighted: Tatiana Alcayaga (Clarinet), Gabriel Zárate (Corno), Sergio Fuentes Ibarra ( Trumpet), Francisco Ramos (Bassoon), Rodrigo López (Flute) and Leonardo Godoy (Violin).

As for the repertoire to be performed, during 2015 the Orchestra will cover a wide range of music, both through the interpretation of works from the universal classical repertoire, as well as works by Chilean composers of learned, popular and contemporary tradition, which is quite significant in that one of the objectives of the Symphony Orchestra of the University of La Serena is the dissemination of national music, that is, bringing the audience closer to the music made and performed by national artists. It is worth highlighting among the programming the holding for the third consecutive year of the “Luis Advis Musical Composition Competition”, organized by the National Council of Culture and the Arts of Coquimbo.

Finally, it is important to highlight that the OSULS receives important support for its operation from the National Music Promotion Fund of the National Council of Culture and the Arts, the University of La Serena, and the “Red de Amigos Sinfónica Orquesta Universidad of La Serena” where important regional and national companies are associated, as well as various media committed to the social, cultural and educational work of the Orchestra.

More details on the presentations of the professional cast, visit the website: http://www.sinfonicalaserena.cl/. 

Source: OSULS Communications