Music brings people closer together, overcomes language and cultural barriers and is a beacon of hope. Three UWC students Alessandra Turrisi (Italy), Laura Gioli (Italy) and Pablo Gutierrez (Spain) witnessed as much this week in Madrid. Our three student musicians (Alessandra plays the bassoon, while Laura and Pablo are violinists), have been invited by the association Pequeñas Huellas, along with Chiara Vidoni, Director of the College’s International Community Music Academy (ICMA) to spend a week in the Spanish capital playing in a youth orchestra consisting of young musicians between the ages of 6 and 21. Many are children with disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds for whom music is the only ticket to a life off the streets. After a series of rehersals in the primary school CEIP Manuel Núñez de Arenaz in a multiethnic neighbourhood in Madrid, the orchestra was involved in a series of exciting activities. The young musicians played at the opening of the World Forum on Urban Violence and Education for Coexistence and Peace, they met Beatrice Fihn, executive director of the International Campaign Against Nuclear Arms, awarded the Nobel for Peace in 2017, they participated in a concert to promote women’s rights and in activities related to the Segunda Marcha Mundial por la Paz and the Nonviolencia, a worldwide peace March that will be held from October 2nd 2019 to March 8th 2020. “This was truly an amazing experience” said Laura. “The orchestra and choir activities we were involved in enabled us to understand what music can do in terms of breaking communication barriers”. Alessandra added “For many of the kids we met, playing a musical instrument is the only a way for them to grow in a supportive environment and a great opportunity to overcome their difficult backgrounds”.
