The educational and free event will be taught, via Zoom, by the teacher and member of the OSULS, Cecilia Olmos Pujado.

The educational activities organized by the Universidad de La Serena Symphony Orchestra have had a great turnout and successful acceptance among participants from July to date. So far, a total of five master classes have been held from home and during August, the studio will focus on instruments in the string family.

This Wednesday the 12th, the appointment is with the violin at its intermediate level. The remote class will be directed by a prominent performer from the region and line leader of the cast, Cecilia Olmos; She who will be in charge of bringing out all the talent and skill of the participants. Later, she followed viola classes with Polyana Brehmer Olivares; and then, resume the study of the smallest instrument in the string family with the violinist Paulina Elgueta, on Friday the 21st, focused on students who are at an initial level. Finally, the aforementioned Cycle of Master Classes from home will culminate in the hands of the OSULS concertmaster, Leonardo Godoy, who will put the finishing touch to this intervention of an educational nature, next Wednesday the 26th of this month, with advanced violin classes.

These sessions are open to the community with prior registration, free of charge, through the OSULS website. To register for the class of your preference, you only have to enter www.sinfonicalaserena.cl and complete the form displayed in the 'Online Classes' tab, located in the upper left part of the page. Subsequently, the production will contact him or the student, via email, to deliver the ID and password to the session via Zoom. Classes start at 17:30 p.m. on the dates described above depending on the instrument and its level of advancement.

Second version of Master Classes from home

It should be noted that this learning instance was inaugurated in July with guided French horn, trumpet, flute and percussion classes; all taught by the leaders of the symphonic ensemble; belonging to the set of Professional Regional Orchestras of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage.

During August, the second version of this Cycle of Master Classes is being developed; which opened the curtain with guided cello classes, led by the leader of the cast, Diego Álvarez, who addressed different study topics with the active and listening participants, referred to the appropriate postures when taking a seat and locating the instrument, the position of the shoulders to avoid tension in that area and how to properly hold the bow when playing. Furthermore, he advised students to open themselves to different musical styles and avoid pigeonholing themselves only in learned music; generating repertoires within their study practices.

Andrés Lleras, a Colombian student residing in Chile and currently studying at the Department of Music at the University of La Serena, presented himself as an active student performing the first movement for cello in C Major by Haydn. According to his own words, he considered that “the master class, despite being online, was excellent. The instructions and advice of the first cello are very clear and extremely useful for those of us who are learning. To be honest, I would like to have this space more often, Professor Diego has a lot to teach and a space like this allows many people to learn from him.”

This activity, like the concerts, are part of the annual program of 'A season like no other' for 2020; which, for reasons of the health contingency in which we find ourselves, is only possible to do online thanks to the support and financing of the University of La Serena and the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage.

For more information on activities and concert calendars, go to www.sinfonicalaserena.cl and following the cast on all its communication channels and social networks, such as Facebook (@Orquesta Sinfónica Universidad de La Serena), Instagram (@sinfonicalaserena), Twitter (@sinfonicaLS) and the YouTube channel (Sinfónica La Serena).

Written by Camila Pérez, University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra