Mexican conductor Alondra de la Parra concludes PAAX GNP Festival with children's orchestra concert

The fifth PAAX GNP Festival culminated on Sunday, August 2, with a powerful performance by the Armonía Social Children and Youth Orchestra and Choir. The ensemble, comprising 121 young musicians, was joined by 40 professional players, many from La Orquesta Imposible, to present works by renowned composers including Bizet, Sibelius, Beethoven, Moncayo, and Márquez.

Held at the Foro Gran Tlachco in Parque Xcaret, the concert saw the young musicians, dressed in vibrant green or orange, take their places. The atmosphere was filled with pride as parents cheered for their children, whose instruments ranged from strings to winds and percussion. The arrival of Alondra de la Parra, the festival's driving force, was met with warm applause as she embraced the concertmaster before the orchestra launched into Bizet's "Les Toreadors."

De la Parra welcomed the audience, highlighting the festival's 10 days of concerts, ballet, talks, and art. She expressed joy in concluding with the "Sinfonía Familiar GNP." The program continued with Sibelius's "Finlandia," Op. 26. Reflecting on the experience, De la Parra articulated the profound lessons learned in an orchestra: punctuality, preparation, practice, collective contribution, respect for time, and listening to others. "Imagine the hours invested," she remarked, emphasizing that these moments, though fleeting, are cherished memories. She asserted that orchestral practice is fundamental to human education and should be a right for all Mexican children.

De la Parra shared that the PAAX GNP Festival fulfills her dreams: first, to gather the world's best musicians, and second, to create tangible actions that will one day see Mexico filled with children in orchestras. This vision is being realized through Armonía Social, a program dedicated to orchestral music instruction and practice for children and youth aged 6 to 16. The festival also celebrated Mexican musical heritage with performances of "Duerme, pequeño mar" by Josu Elberdin, the Afro-Cuban traditional song "Yenyeré Gumá," and the Maya traditional piece "Los Xtoles." De la Parra concluded by thanking the festival's sponsors.