Core 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 trajectory has been remarkable. Her 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.
Vera’s position in Bolivia often drew parents with musically talented children to appear at her father’s doorstep asking how their child could fulfil their aspirations. Her brother Armando Vera, a violinist with over thirty years teaching experience in Bolivia, has been a source of compelling testimonials conveying the need for better resources and quality control.
Realising she might be in a unique position to help, Vera relocated her family from London to La Paz in 2011 to start a charitable music school for Bolivia’s young and talented, and found a world-class music festival there to bring top musicians to the region from around the globe. The challenges Vera and her team have endured so far on this ongoing journey have been numerous, but these have been largely offset by the enthusiasm and progress shown by the children. She has also received unprecedented support from both the public and the private sector, raising most of the funds in Bolivia.
Marco Perez, Associate Director
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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.
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.
Our Teachers
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.
Pedro Carrillo (1998) es violonchelista y director de orquesta boliviano. Inició sus estudios musicales a los 8 años y se formó principalmente en Bolivia Clásica bajo la guía de la maestra Andrea García, y del maestro Armando Vera, tras haber estudiado previamente con el cellista español David Paiser. Ha recibido clases magistrales de reconocidos músicos internacionales como William Stam, Francisco Vila, Gregor Riddell, Thomas Gould, y Jennifer Stumm, entre otros.
Ha participado activamente en los principales festivales del país, incluyendo Bolivia Joven (Oruro), Bravura y el Festival Internacional de Música Barroca y Renacentista de Chiquitos (Santa Cruz), así como el Festival Taku Apu de Bolivia Clásica en Samaipata. Desde 2021 se desempeña también como director de ópera, habiendo dirigido producciones como Carmen, Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci y Tosca. Se destaca especialmente por su trabajo en orquesta, música de cámara y repertorio operístico.
Actualmente forma parte del cuerpo docente de ClaveSol cómo director en la sede de La Paz, en la escuela dónde se formó, Bolivia Clásica.
Miguel Angel Chambilla, violinist
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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.
Vania Andrea García Hinojosa inició sus estudios musicales en el Instituto Eduardo Laredo de Cochabamba. Continuó su formación en la prestigiosa Academia de Artes Interlochen, en Michigan (EE. UU.), y obtuvo su Licenciatura en Música con altos honores en la Universidad del Estado de Michigan. Asimismo, fue alumna del destacado chelista francés Michel Strauss, a través del programa de enseñanza a distancia del Conservatorio de Boulogne-Billancourt de París, con el respaldo de la Fundación Bolivia Clásica.
Motivada por su interés en la gestión y promoción cultural, Andrea complementó su formación musical con diplomados en estas áreas y una Maestría en Administración de Empresas del Instituto de Líderes Globales. Como fruto de estos programas, ha participado en talleres de promoción musical en países en desarrollo de Centro y Sudamérica.
A lo largo de su carrera, ha formado parte de diversas orquestas en Bolivia y Estados Unidos, y ha realizado giras orquestales por América y Europa. Como solista, se ha presentado junto a importantes orquestas en Bolivia. Además, ha demostrado una notable versatilidad artística al participar en la grabación de bandas sonoras de reconocidas películas bolivianas y colaborar con destacados artistas nacionales en una variedad de géneros musicales.
Profesora de cello durante muchos años en Bolivia Clásica, Andrea actualmente es docente del Conservatorio Plurinacional de Música, miembro de la Sociedad Boliviana de Música de Cámara así cómo de la iniciativa Cello Colectivo, dirige un estudio privado de violonchelo y se desempeña como guía de sección en la Orquesta Sinfónica de Bolivia.
Viktor Díaz, double bassist
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Trustees
Fundación Bolivia Clásica (Bolivia)
Ana María Vera
Eduardo Quintanilla
Nicolás Peña
María Paola Muñoz
Gonzalo Montenegro
Armando Vera
Andrea García
Bolivia Clásica Ltd. Registered Charity No. 1149817 (United Kingdom)
Ana-Maria Vera
Jose Maria Linares
Sanjay Nazerali
Bolivia Clasica Foundation, 501(c)3 non-profit organization (United States)
Richard Tager
Paul Sekhri
Ana-Maria Vera
Dennis Paul
John Dunton-Downer
Isabelle Moutaud