The Bolivia Clasica team

Ana María Vera, Founding Director

Pianist and Bolivia Clásica founder Ana-Maria Vera grew up in Washington D.C., but her affinity for her father’s native Bolivia was powerful from an early age. Ana-Maria was already touring with orchestras worldwide when she discovered her paternal homeland at age nine. Her grandfather was a folk composer, writer and indigenous leader, and her grandmother a chola who lived in the heart of the bustling witches market in La Paz; from this vantage point the rich local culture as well as the striking social injustices left an indelible impression.

Ana-Maria’s first recording at age eleven with the Rotterdam Philharmonic was awarded a Gold Record by Philips, and at age twelve she was invited to give a recital at the White House for President and Mrs. Carter. Vera’s stature in Bolivia grew quickly, and when she was sixteen the country issued a postage stamp bearing her image.

A former pupil of Ylda Novik and Leon Fleisher, Vera has appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra and Tokyo Symphony amongst others, with conductors including Riccardo Muti, Edo de Waart, David Zinman, Eliahu Inbal, Eduardo Mata and Sergiu Commissiona. She has given countless solo recitals across the globe and has also devoted much of her time to chamber music, developing duo partnerships with Ivry Gitlis, Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis. Her most recent solo recording, of the Goyescas piano suite by Granados, was released on Signum Classics.

Armando Vera, Academic Director

American-Bolivian violinist Armando Vera Woudstra began his piano and violin studies in the United States at the age of three. Drawn to ensemble work, he joined various prestigious youth orchestras, eventually becoming the concertmaster of the Montgomery County Youth Orchestra. At age sixteen he pursued his musical studies in Paris, France with violinist Jean-Marc Philips and the renowned French violinist and pedagogue Gerard Poulet. Over the following two years Armando won awards in various violin competitions in the U.S. and in Europe. Upon his return to the U.S., he received further training with American violinist Jane Cromwell.

In 1997 Armando decided to move to Bolivia, where he taught violin at the National Conservatory of Music in the city of La Paz and at the “Instituto Eduardo Laredo” in the city of Cochabamba over a period of ten years. He began coaching youth orchestras across the country with notable success.

His dedication has reaped remarkable rewards, as despite the many challenges ‘he never renounced excellence as an objective’, to quote a recent article in La Razón, one of Bolivia’s leading newspapers. His inspiring work with young musicians is at the very core of the Bolivia Clásica project, and under his leadership the Bolivia Clasica Youth orchestra has become its groundbreaking flagship.

Marco Perez, Associate Director

Bolivian pianist Marco Andrei Perez is passionate about exploring a diverse repertoire that spans from baroque to jazz and Latin American music. Graduated from the Royal Academy of Music where he studied under the tutelage of Rustem Hayroudinoff, Marco has been recognized for his talent and interpretative depth from an early age, participating in festivals both in Bolivia and abroad. At age 12, in 2010, he won first prize at the International Claudio Arrau Piano Competition, awarded by an international jury, along with a special prize for being the youngest international participant.

He started his piano studies with Russian teacher Irina Efanova at the age of 5, with whom he continued studying at the National Conservatoire of Music in Bolivia. For several consecutive years he was awarded scholarships granted to the best students in the conservatoire by the Hermann Foundation and the National Conservatoire. Since joining the Bolivia Clásica Foundation in 2011, he performed in numerous concerts across the country, collaborating with guest musicians in chamber ensembles and as a soloist with the Bolivia Clásica Orchestra. From 2011 to 2012, he studied with renowned pianist Ana María Vera. In 2015 and 2016, he was invited on scholarship to the Hamptons Music Sessions and the International Music Sessions summer courses in New York. In 2017 he was awarded a full scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music with the support of the Bolivia Clásica Foundation.

During his visits to Bolivia, he gives solo recitals and imparts piano workshops to mentor and work with young pianists. Since 2022, inspired by his desire to support those facing adversity, he has made it one of his ongoing projects to organize and perform in benefit piano concerts, raising funds and working alongside nonprofit organizations.

Freddy Huanca, Administrative Director 

Freddy Huanca Vargas, is a financial auditor who graduated from the Central University ‘Unicen’ in La Paz, Bolivia. He has served as head of the accounting and administrative department of the Fundación Bolivia Clásica since 2023.

El Lic. C.P.A. Freddy Huanca Vargas es Auditor Financiero y fue titulado en la Universidad Central ‘Unicen’ en La Paz, Bolivia. Ha servido como encargado del departamento contable y administrativo de la Fundación Bolivia Clásica desde 2023.

Rodrigo Sillerico, violinist and conductor

Rodrigo Sillerico Mayta is a prominent young Bolivian conductor and violinist, committed to art, music education and cultural development. He began his training at the Municipal School of Arts and actively participated in the El Alto Municipal Symphony Orchestra. He specialised in Orchestral Conducting at Loyola University and received a scholarship from CAF to study in Venezuela under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel.

Rodrigo has received musical instruction in France and master classes from top international musicians during his training at the Bolivia Clásica music programme. He has been an active member of the Bolivia Clásica Youth Orchestra for many years, collaborating with world-renowned conductors, as well as the Bolivian National Symphony Orchestra.

He has conducted ensembles such as the El Alto Municipal Chamber Orchestra and the El Alto Municipal Symphony Orchestra. Rodrigo currently leads the Bolivia Clásica-led Clave Sol music programme in El Alto, an orchestral project with a strong social component, and teaches violin at the Suzuky Academy. He is also the founder/director of the Bolivian Governors’ Orchestras, promoting musical training with excellence and commitment.

Pedro Carrillo, violinist and conductor

Pedro Carrillo (1998) is a Bolivian cellist and conductor. He began his musical studies at the age of 8 and studied at the Bolivia Clásica music school under the guidance of Andrea García and Armando Vera, having previously studied with Spanish cellist David Paiser. As part of the Bolivia Clasica training programme, he received masterclasses from renowned international musicians such as William Stam, Francisco Vila, Gregor Riddell, Thomas Gould, and Jennifer Stumm, among others.

He has actively participated in the country’s main festivals, including Bolivia Joven (Oruro), Bravura, and the Chiquitos International Baroque and Renaissance Music Festival (Santa Cruz), as well as the TakuApu Festival of Bolivia Clásica in Samaipata. Since 2021, he has also worked as an opera conductor, having directed productions such as Carmen, Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci, and Tosca. He is particularly noted for his work in orchestra, chamber music, and operatic repertoire.

He currently directs ClaveSol La Paz, an orchestral training programme run by Bolivia Clásica, as a conductor and cello teacher.

Miguel Angel Chambilla, violinist

Miguel Chambilla began studying violin in 2011 at the Municipal School of Arts in El Alto, under the guidance of Professor Richard Gisbert, and began studying cello in Banco Sol’s Clave Sol Project with Professor Eduardo Quintela.

In 2012, he was one of the Clave Sol students selected to be part of the Bolivia Clásica Foundation’s String Quartet Programme, thanks to an agreement established that year between the two institutions. During this period, he received individual and chamber lessons from American violinist Eric Hosler and Dutch cellist Willem Stam. Later that year, he took classes with French violinist Marie Françoise Pallot.

In 2013, he formally enrolled in the Bolivia Clásica Foundation’s Music Training Programme as a violinist, studying with Professor Armando Vera, and joined the Bolivia Clásica Preparatory Orchestra under his direction. During this period, he participated in masterclasses with renowned international musicians, including American violist Jennifer Stum, Japanese violinist Ken Aiso, Dutch violinist Ana Hiemstra, and Bolivian violinist Justo Gutiérrez.

Between 2015 and 2018, he was a member of the Bolivia Clásica Youth Chamber Orchestra. He participated in the 2016 Bolivia Clásica Festival in La Paz, under the direction of American maestro David Stern, and again in the 2024 Bolivia Clásica Festival in Samaipata, under the direction of Bolivian conductor Cergio Prudencio.

In 2018, he began teaching violin classes at the Bolivia Clásica Project in Mallasa. In 2019, he was invited to perform with the Bolivia Clásica Chamber Orchestra, conducted by English violinist Thomas Gould, and later took classes with English violinist Kathy Gowers and participated in a workshop led by English violist Sara Parfitt. At the end of that same year, he continued his training with Professor Alexander Lapich.

Since 2025, Miguel Chambilla has been working as a violin and viola teacher for the Clave Sol La Paz Orchestral Project, after being invited by the Bolivia Clásica Foundation.

Miguel Chambilla inició sus estudios de violín en 2011 en la Escuela Municipal de Artes de El Alto, bajo la guía del profesor Richard Gisbert, y sus estudios de violonchelo en el Proyecto Clave Sol de Banco Sol con el profesor Eduardo Quintela.

En 2012 fue uno de los alumnos del Proyecto Clave Sol seleccionados para formar parte del Programa de Cuartetos de Cuerdas de la Fundación Bolivia Clásica, gracias a un convenio establecido ese año entre ambas instituciones. Durante este periodo recibió clases individuales con el maestro estadounidense Eric Hosler, y de música de cámara con el propio Hosler y el violonchelista holandés Willem Stam. A
finales de ese mismo año tomó clases con la violinista francesa Marie Françoise Pallot.

En 2013 formalizó su ingreso al Programa de Formación Musical de la Fundación Bolivia Clásica como alumno de violín, estudiando con el profesor Armando Vera, y se integró a la Orquesta Preparatoria de Bolivia Clásica, bajo su dirección. Durante este periodo participó en clases magistrales con destacados músicos internacionales, entre ellos la violista estadounidense Jennifer Stum, el violinista japonés Ken Aiso, la violinista holandesa Ana Hiemstra y el violinista boliviano Justo Gutiérrez.

Entre 2015 y 2018 fue miembro de la Orquesta de Cámara Juvenil de Bolivia Clásica (OCJBC). Participó en el Festival Bolivia Clásica 2016 en La Paz, bajo la dirección del maestro estadounidense David Stern, y nuevamente en el Festival Bolivia Clásica 2024 en Samaipata, bajo la dirección del director boliviano Cergio Prudencio.

En 2018 inició su labor docente impartiendo clases de violín en el Proyecto de Bolivia Clásica en Mallasa. En 2019 fue invitado a presentarse con la Orquesta de Cámara Bolivia Clásica, dirigida por el violinista inglés Thomas Gould, y más adelante tomó clases con la violinista inglesa Kathy Gowers y participó en un taller dirigido por la violista inglesa Sara Parfitt. A finales de ese mismo año continuó su formación con el profesor Alexander Lapich.

Desde 2025, Miguel Chambilla se desempeña como profesor de violín y viola del Proyecto Orquestal Clave Sol La Paz, tras ser invitado por la Fundación Bolivia Clásica.

Andrea García, cellist

Vania Andrea García Hinojosa began her musical studies at the Eduardo Laredo Institute in Cochabamba. She continued her training at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan (USA) and obtained her Bachelor of Music degree with high honours from Michigan State University. She also studied with the renowned French cellist Michel Strauss through the distance learning programme of the Boulogne-Billancourt Conservatory in Paris, with the support of the Bolivia Clásica Foundation.

Motivated by her interest in cultural management and promotion, Andrea complemented her musical training with diplomas in these areas and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Institute for Global Leaders. As a result of these programmes, she has participated in music promotion workshops in developing countries in Central and South America.

Throughout her career, she has been a member of various orchestras in Bolivia and the United States and has toured America and Europe with orchestras. As a soloist, she has performed with leading orchestras in Bolivia. In addition, she has demonstrated remarkable artistic versatility by participating in the recording of soundtracks for renowned Bolivian films and collaborating with prominent national artists in a variety of musical genres.

Having taught cello as part of the Bolivia Clasica school for many years, Andrea is currently a teacher at the Plurinational Conservatory of Music, a member of the Bolivian Chamber Music Society and the Cello Colectivo initiative, and runs a private cello studio.