Youth Orchestra: More Than Music
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orquesta de los Barrios: Music Bridging Divides in Buenos Aires
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (May 3, 2025) — For Ruth Geréz, picking up a violin at age 7 sparked a passion tempered by stage fright. Now 26, Geréz recalls the initial terror of performing solos.
“I was scared of playing alone, that others woudl listen to me, look at me and judge,” Geréz said. Early on, she preferred the anonymity of ensemble playing.
That changed nearly two decades later on a summer afternoon when, as a featured soloist with the Orquesta de los Barrios youth orchestra, she performed Astor Piazzolla’s ‘Primavera Porteña.’
Today, Geréz says audiences motivate her.Since joining the orchestra at its founding in 2018, she credits the program with boosting her confidence and interpersonal skills.
A Gateway to Opportunity
The Orquesta de los Barrios has performed for international dignitaries and at the Teatro Colón, serving as a launchpad for young musicians. Cellist Michelle Olivera is now studying at a music academy in Germany. Violinist Diego Alegre spent a year performing on a Caribbean cruise ship.
The musicians share similar backgrounds, hailing from Buenos Aires’ low-income neighborhoods, including Villa 31 in Retiro, Bajo Flores, La Boca, Villa Lugano, Balvanera, Cildanez, Soldati, and Mataderos.
The Orquesta de los Barrios, comprised of musicians ages 15-27, provides musical training, education, and professional growth to adolescents who lack access to such opportunities.
Néstor Tedesco, the director, recruits members from other orchestras, seeking talent, enthusiasm, and financial need.
‘The Friends’: A Circle of Support
A group of six women, known as “The Friends,” provide crucial support. They fundraise to offer monthly stipends and performance compensation. They also collect donated instruments, addressing the loss of school-provided instruments after graduation.
Geréz, who grew up in Villa Lugano, emphasizes the transformative impact of the orchestra’s community.
“To be in a group of people… made up of young people who all come from humble neighborhoods that don’t have a lot of possibility or opportunities… we are able to continue forward and be motivated,” Geréz said.
A Collaborative Effort
In 2018, “The Friends,” some of whom belong to the University Women’s Club of Buenos Aires, approached Tedesco to offer support. The Orquesta de los Barrios became the result of this collaboration.
The women solicit donations, secure venues, provide free English lessons, and teach public speaking. Their gatherings always include a shared meal.
“This is a group of young people who have grown together and it wouldn’t exist in this form if it weren’t for this group of Orchestra friends,” Tedesco said. ”They achieve and search for all kinds of benefits for the group. It is shaped by personal experiences.”
A volunteer’s nephew donated his unused clarinet to a young orchestra member.
“They have been linked through that donation,” Tedesco said. “Imagine such an experience for a humble young man,to receive a prize that allows him to continue his education.”
“The Friends” also maintain a collection of recycled strings,as new ones are expensive in Argentina.
Volunteer Phyllis Barrantes said, “They’re really determined to take every single opportunity open to them, to carve their own future.”
Musicians follow individual study programs in addition to group rehearsals. The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t halt the project; they practiced and performed online.
Tedesco is inspired by the musicians’ dedication to growth.
“The other day,someone said he was interested in donating books… I told the kids about it. They all went to get books, and each one took about 10 books,” Tedesco said.
“It’s a very,very warm group of young kids who are excited about moving forward in life.”
The Power of Music
Geréz believes classical music connects people to their emotions and the world.
Tedesco sees instruments as a “salvation table,” providing stability.
Geréz, who also works as a car mechanic, credits her violin with helping her through difficult times, including her mother’s death.
“It was what saved me. I don’t know where I would have been today,” she said.
While some aspire to professional music careers, others plan different paths, but music will remain meaningful.
Alexis Apaza,17,from Villa 31,studies engineering and computer science.
“[The orchestra] is the synthesis of what it means to help a young person by opening up the horizon to many places,” Tedesco said. “I discovered that young people, when they have enthusiasm and they have a good heart, no matter where they come from, they want to do things, and if you help them, they’ll do them better.”
Performances draw supportive crowds,fostering community. tedesco notes that community collaboration sustains public music programs amidst funding changes.
Paloma Barreiro, 21, and Ambar Velasco, 18, violinists and best friends, joined a year ago and travel home to Villa Lugano together after rehearsals.
They say music gives them purpose.
Orquesta de los Barrios: Music Bridging Divides in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina (May 3, 2025) – The Orquesta de los Barrios is a youth orchestra in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that is using music to create opportunities for young people from low-income neighborhoods. This article provides an in-depth look at the orchestra’s mission, its impact on the musicians and the community and how a collaborative effort from the community helps to make the orchestra prosperous.
What is the Orquesta de los Barrios?
The Orquesta de los Barrios is a youth orchestra in Buenos Aires comprised of musicians aged 15-27. It provides young people from low-income neighborhoods with musical training, education, and opportunities for professional growth that they might not or else have access to.
What Inspired the Creation of the Orquesta de los Barrios?
The orchestra was founded to provide musical training and opportunities to young people from low-income neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. The director, Néstor Tedesco, recruits talent from other orchestras by looking for talent, enthusiasm, and financial need.
Where do the musicians come from?
The musicians in the Orquesta de los Barrios come from various low-income neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, including:
- Villa 31 in Retiro
- Bajo Flores
- La Boca
- villa Lugano
- Balvanera
- Cildáñez
- Soldati
- Mataderos
Who Supports the Orchestra?
A group of six women, known as “The Friends,” provide crucial support ensuring the success of the orchestra. Their contributions include:
- Fundraising to offer monthly stipends and performance compensation.
- Collecting donated instruments.
- Securing venues, providing free English lessons, and teaching public speaking.
What is the Impact of the Orchestra on the Musicians?
The orchestra has had a transformative impact on the musicians, boosting their confidence, interpersonal skills, and providing a sense of community.Such as, Ruth Geréz, a violinist with the orchestra, says that the orchestra helped her through tough times, including her mother’s death. Manny musicians credit the orchestra with helping them to see a better future.
Are the Musicians Pursuing musical Careers?
While some musicians aspire to professional music careers,others plan different paths. However, music remains a meaningful part of their lives, providing them with purpose and emotional connection. For example, Alexis Apaza studies engineering and computer science.
How Does the Orchestra Benefit the Community?
The orchestra fosters a supportive community through its performances and community collaboration. Community collaboration sustains the music programs amidst funding changes. The orchestra provides a platform for young people to express themselves and achieve their goals.
What role does music play in the Orchestra?
Music is central to the Orquesta de los Barrios’ mission. It connects people to their emotions and the world and provides personal stability. For the musicians, it offers a sense of purpose.
Key Takeaways
Here’s a summary of the key aspects of the Orquesta de los Barrios:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Mission | To provide musical training, education, and professional growth to adolescents from low-income neighborhoods. |
| Support | Supported by “The Friends,” a group of women who fundraise,collect instruments,and offer various forms of assistance. |
| Impact | Boosts musicians’ confidence,interpersonal skills,and provides a supportive community. Provides a gateway to overcome difficult circumstances such as the loss of a parent. |
| Community | Performances draw supportive crowds, fostering community collaboration and sustaining the music programs. |
The Orquesta de los Barrios is a shining example of how music can empower young people. It offers not only musical training but also life skills, community, and a sense of purpose.