It has been said that music is the language of the world — a language that transcends racial barriers, tribal lines and even bitter enemies. Historic events such as the New York Philharmonic’s performance in North Korea are evidence that music brings people together under a common banner. Whether your passion is singing or playing a string, brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument, this summer, we invite you to share your musical gifts during an unparalleled adventure as we journey through Costa Rica and its rural villages and communities. By bridging cultures with the common language of music, we have the extraordinary opportunity to be with others in a unique and powerful way as we gain insight into Costa Rican daily life and traditions.
We begin our program in Chicago, Illinois, where we spend four days getting acquainted with each other, our instruments or talents and the music we will perform in Costa Rica. Rehearsing the pieces that we'll perform and collaborating with each other, we'll work under the guidance of an accomplished musician and director of a youth orchestra. This will be our time to bond as a group, practice with one another, laugh, learn and prepare for our unique adventure.
From Chicago, we’ll head south to San José, Costa Rica, a jewel of culture and conservation in Central America. Costa Rica’s reputation for beautiful beaches, mountainous cloud forests and roaring jungle rivers makes it one of the most sought after destinations on the planet. We live with the people of the community and share our music, affording us the amazing opportunity to discover the musical history and cultural wealth of this nation.
Our first musical exchange takes place in the town of Providencia on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. It is a small farming town in the mountains and most of its 300 residents subsist by harvesting raspberries or dairy farming. The town is at an altitude of 5,900 feet so the climate is cool. We spend four days getting to know the community, performing impromptu concerts, sharing our time and talents with the people of the community and making new friends. Our time here culminates in a final performance with the residents of Providencia.
On our way to our next village, we enjoy a day of hiking the Irazu Volcano and exploring the colonial town of Cartago, discovered in 1563 by the Spanish conquistador Juan Vásquez de Coronado. We eventually make our way to the town of Orosi which is situated in what is considered to be the most beautiful valley in the entire country. Orosi has a number of schools that have traditional performance bands with instruments such as drums, chimes and cymbals. For five days, we exchange music and improve our skills together as we learn about one another and traditional Costa Rican music. Our final concert with the community will take place at the Iglesia de San José Orosi. Built in 1734, it is the oldest church currently in use in Costa Rica.
After our concert in Orosi, we regroup and enjoy a day of white water rafting on the Pejibaye River, a Class II and III jungle river located in one of the most important natural areas of the region. We feel a surge of adrenaline as we raft through rapids of crystal blue water and rush by verdant rainforest. We end our journey with a peaceful respite as we cross La Angostura Dam Lake in Turrialba.
We return to San José, where we perform our final concert, having experienced firsthand what Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once wrote: “Music is the universal language of mankind.”
| AGES |
DAYS
|
TUITION |
DATES |
ARRIVE/DEPART |
| 14–18 |
18 |
4,550 |
7/06/10–7/23/10 |
Chicago, IL
|
