Children's Orchestra of Mexico

Friday, November 25 was one of the most unforgettable days of the NO-BORDERS Concert Tour. POA headed early to Mexico City's National Arts Center (CNA), a beautiful college campus where the Children's Orchestra of Mexico meets twice a year for rehearsals, workshops, concerts and a tour. Upon arriving, POA musicians greeted the children, whose enthusiasm and anticipation could be felt a mile away. For three hours in the morning, the orchestras broke into instrument sectionals and worked on the repertoire which included Sibelius' Finlandia, Marquez' Danzon No. 2, Ginastera's Estancia Suite, Leonard Bernstein's Mambo from A West Side Story , among others. There was a two-hour lunch break, in which both orchestras ate together, took pictures, exchanged ideas, shared hobbies and interests and even played soccer! From observing this gathering and walking around, it seemed that the cultural and language barriers simply did not exist. The beautifully green CNA campus was an inspiring backdrop for this bonding.

In the afternoon, the stage crew pulled an almost miraculous feat as it successfully accommodated all 200+ musicians with their instruments on stage for a 3-hour rehearsal, conducted by Alondra. The atmosphere was indescribable. Wherever one looked, musicians were smiling or reaching for their stand partner's music to point something out, or demonstrating a passage. Alondra concluded the afternoon by saying how important this project was for Mexico and imbued a sense of responsibility on the children musicians, whose role as future ambassadors of music education in Mexico would become ever more as time went by. Enjoy the pictures of this day, which according to most POA musicians, was their favorite day of the NO-BORDERS Concert Tour!