Bolivia Clasica festivals have taken place since our launch in 2011, and are celebrations of the best of Bolivian and international artistry.
Building bridges between Bolivia and the world has always been one of our top priorities. Cultural cross currents promote innovation, critical thinking and inspiration. And so we have invited musicians David Stern, Katharine Gowers, Philip Dukes, Adrian Brendel, Matt Hunt, Jaime Laredo, Sharon Robinson, Leticia Moreno, Guy Johnston, Francisco Vila, Thomas Gould, Camila Barrientos and Jennifer Stumm among many others to come perform, teach, and discover Bolivian talent.
These encounters have led to memorable collaborations with international repercussions. Bolivia Clasica students have grown up exposed to some of the best players in the world, while our guest artists have discovered a country with a rich, diverse and unique culture.
2024
Spanish violinist Leticia Moreno after her performance of Astor Piazzola’s Four Seasons, with the Bolivia Clasica chamber orchestra in Samaipata.
We included street theatre at our first TakuApu festival, commissioning a play by Alejandro Molina.
As well as the creation of a bespoke mural under the guidance of renowned Bolivian artist Cecilia Wilde.
There was outdoor chamber music!
And a Traditional Music workshop for local children, under the guidance of Manuel Castellanos.
The BC Youth Orchestra rehearsing at El Fuerte in Samaipata, under the direccion of Cergio Prudencio.
Piraí Vaca, Bolivia’s highly regarded guitarist, at the TakuApu Festival.
2011
British violist Philip Dukes and cellist Adrian Brendel, arriving at the Island of the Sun on Lake Titikaka for a performance at 14,000 feet.
2012
Being welcomed to Tarija in 2012 by Rodrigo Paz, current president of Bolivia.
British clarinettist Matthew Hunt tries out a native wind instrument in Tarija.
Guy Johnston joins Matt in trying on the local headdress.
“They don’t have a lot of the resources that we have in Europe, but they have in some ways so much more…I have never seen such raw energy and imagination and passion for what they’re doing and this is absolutely thrilling. It kind of reminds me of where we might have gone wrong in Europe and what we can learn from them.” – Matt Hunt, British clarinettist
2014
2016
Meastro David Stern rehearsing with young violinist Carlos Lazarte in a Bach concerto at the Teatro Municipal in La Paz.
“The kids in the orchestra are just adorable, hard working and completely committed. Armando does a fabulous job preparing them and I think the Vera family is onto something vital for the musical community of the country. Considering the great food, the mountains and the charm of La Paz, adding music making to it all was pure pleasure. Ana Maria has to find a way to make this festival thrive at the highest level.” – David Stern, American conductor
Sopranos Sophia Stern and Sarah Hershkowitz dancing at one of the many fiestas in La Paz.
Los festivales de Bolivia Clásica se realizaron desde nuestro lanzamiento en 2011, y son celebraciones de lo mejor del arte boliviano e internacional.
Construir puentes entre Bolivia y el mundo ha sido siempre una de nuestras prioridades. Corrientes culturales cruzadas promueven innovación, pensamiento crítico e inspiración. De este modo hemos invitado a los músicos David Stern, Katherine Gowers, Philip Dukes, Adrian Brendel, Matt Hunt, Jaime Laredo, Sharon Robinson, Leticia Moreno, Guy Johnston, Francisco Vila, Thomas Gould, Camila Barrientos y Jennifer Stumm entre muchos otros a venir a dar conciertos, enseñar y descubrir el talento boliviano.
Estos encuentros han llevado a colaboraciones memorables con repercusiones a nivel internacional. Los estudiantes de Bolivia Clásica han crecido expuestos a los mejores intérpretes del mundo, mientras nuestros artistas invitados han descubierto un país con una cultura rica, diversa y única.
“No tienen muchos de los recursos que tenemos en Europa, pero tienen en algunas aspectos mucho más…Nunca he visto una energía tan viva e imaginación y pasión por lo que están haciendo y esto es absolutamente emocionante. Me recuerda en cierto modo a lo que podría haber ido mal en Europa y lo que podemos aprender de ellos.”
– Matt Hunt, clarinetista Británico
“Los chicos en la orquesta son simplemente adorables, muy trabajadores y completamente comprometidos. Armando hace un trabajo fabuloso preparándolos y creo que la familia Vera está en algo vital para la comunidad musical del país. Considerando la gran comida, las montañas y el encanto de La Paz, añadiendo a todo esto el hacer música fue puro placer. Ana María tiene que encontrar una manera de hacer este festival crecer al más alto nivel.”
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Tengo el agrado de anunciarles que una gran especialista en formación artística, la actriz y directora de teatro, Verónica Armaza, se ha integrado al equipo de Bolivia Clásica. Verónica se hará cargo de nuestra escuela de música, como directora, trabajando mano a mano con el director artístico de nuestra orquesta, Armando Vera Woudstra y con…
In 2011, Ana-Maria and Armando Vera - Bolivian-American siblings - joined forces as a response to young Bolivian musicians who aspired to a better quality of music education in their home country. Armando, who had been teaching violin and coaching youth orchestras in Bolivia for over twenty years, was well aware of the expressive talent…
Bolivia Clasica's mission is to ensure no talent is left behind, and in bringing top musicians and pedagogues from around the world to work with our students and teachers, many of these have gone on to higher studies and become successful professionals around the world. To ensure this, we are actively involved in securing their…
Over the years we have brought instrumental teachers, luthiers, conductors, singers, music initiation specialists, composers and even actors to Bolivia to offer master classes and teacher-training workshops. As many have come long distances and the work is intensive, they stay for several weeks, sometimes months at a time. This work has provided the groundwork for…
Our main costs are salaries for local teachers, travel expenses for international guest teachers, school building rental, instruments and instrument maintenance, and administration. We also are creating a scholarship fund so that our most high achieving students can benefit from the best training available around the world, ultimately to bring it back to Bolivia.
