CU Wind Ensemble to
Return to Costa Rica to
Work With Music Students
By Daniel Aloi,
Cornell.edu
In January 2006, the
Cornell University Wind
Ensemble (CU Winds)
embarked on a 10-day
concert tour and
outreach mission in
Costa Rica, bringing
along more than 50
donated instruments for
a small music school
there.
This winter, CU Winds
returns to the Central
American country for
another tour, to revisit
the school in Matapalo
for a workshop and
concert with students,
and to deliver 70 more
refurbished instruments
to two other schools.
The 49-member ensemble
will leave Ithaca Jan. 9
for San Jose after five
days of on-campus
rehearsals for the
10-day tour.
"The 2006 tour was
transformative for all
parties involved. One of
the things that we
learned is that we got
just as much, if not
more, out of the giving
than the students and
communities to whom we
gave," said Cynthia
Johnston Turner,
director of wind
ensembles in the
Department of Music. "CU
Winds believes in
service and trying to
make the world a bit
better. We also believe
that giving the
opportunity to make
music to a young person
can change their life
for the better. This
year, we've doubled our
efforts."
The schools receiving
instruments are a music
conservatory in San
Isidro, near the capital
city of San Jose, and "a
high school in Poas that
has an excellent music
program but instruments
in serious disrepair,"
Johnston Turner said.
At the San Isidro
conservatory, "some of
the instruments were
donated to the school 50
years ago, and they are
still using them," she
said.
The tour will take the
group cross-country by
bus to Santa Cruz and
Matapalo, after further
performances in and
around San Jose and home
stays with host
families. The ensemble
also will perform for an
audience of thousands at
the annual Santa Cruz
Cultural Festival, as it
did in 2006, and will be
featured in a parade
with the Matapalo band.
The diverse group of
Cornell student
musicians also will have
opportunities to enjoy a
rainforest hike, bird
watching and a midnight
visit to an endangered
sea turtle nesting site
at Playa Grande on the
west coast.
The itinerary also
includes a Cornell
alumni reception and
dinner, and a visit to a
coffee farm operated by
Rosamond Grew -- member
of a large Cornell
family that includes her
husband, Nathaniel Grew
'60, D.V.M. '63, and
five children who are
Cornell students or
recent alumni.
"Rosamond has been
extremely helpful
connecting us with Costa
Rican families [and]
hotel owners," Johnston
Turner said. "She is the
one who found the school
in San Isidro." |
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