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Scenes from the Mariuccia Iacovino Symphonic Orchestra, the Brazilian 86-piece youth orchestra that performed this past Sunday, Nov. 20th at the United Palace Theatre.
Story and photos by Sherry Mazzocchi
Video by Sherry Mazzocchi
This time next year, Washington Heights might have its very own youth orchestra.
If David Gracia has his way, his plans to emulate the Mariuccia Iacovino Symphonic Orchestra that performed at the United Palace Theatre this past Sunday evening, will soon be more than just a passing delight.
The 86-piece youth Brazilian orchestra is currently touring North America, including Washington Heights’ United Palace on Sun., Nov. 20th, and is performing at Carnegie Hall later this week.
The orchestra is part of El Sistema, an initiative that promotes musical education, and creates youth orchestras with young people from poor areas in countries all over South America.
Gracia, an Abreu Fellow from the New England Conservatory of Music, is emulating El Sistema here in the United States by creating the Washington Heights and Inwood Music Project. He is still in the early stages of contacting schools and talking to arts organizations about the orchestra.
“This program taps into disadvantaged communities,” Gracia said. “It gives children and youth an opportunity to strengthen their skills, to build community and also to develop personally.”
Like the Brazilian orchestra, he wants future northern Manhattan musicians to travel and perform concerts all over the world. He believes that travel will widen children’s perspectives. “They will see different cultures,” he said. “They will see the world.”
Leonardo, age 16, has played violin for the Mariuccia Iacovino orchestra for six years. He’s traveled to other Latin American countries, but this was his first time in New York.
“The lights in Times Square are fantastic,” he said.
Two other violinists, Elise and Hebe, were also impressed by the city. “Everything is so huge,” said Elise.
“I think the whole world is here,” said Hebe. “You see every kind of people.”
Gracia said he is working with two other organizations for the orchestra, and hopes the orchestra will start taking shape by next summer.
“We are still in the early stages,” says Gracia. “But it seems like we are establishing a very solid foundation to move forward.”
To hear directly from members of the Mariuccia Iacovino Symphonic Orchestra, please visit http://bit.ly/MT019.
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