Spanish violinist Leticia Moreno, after her performance of Astor Piazzolla’s Four Seasons, with the Bolivia Clasica chamber orchestra and maestro Cergio Prudencio.

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.

Cecilia Wilde (on right) on site with CAPI co-founder Liliana Navia and team leader Pedro Lazaro.

There was outdoor chamber music!

And a Traditional Music workshop for local children, under the guidance of Manuel Castellanos.

Piraí Vaca, Bolivia’s highly regarded guitarist, at the TakuApu Festival.

The stunning Iglesia de Samaipata was filled to the brim.

Enjoying the views after an intense few weeks.

This included the Bolivian premiere of Shaker Loops by John Adams, which the composer describes as: …the vision of these otherwise pious and industrious souls caught up in the ecstatic frenzy of a dance that culminated in an epiphany of physical and spiritual transcendence. This dynamic, almost electrically charged element, so out of place in the orderly mechanistic universe of Minimalism, gave the music its raison d’être and ultimately led to the full realization of the piece.

One of the performances took place in the National Art Museum.

Exploring the streets of La Paz between rehearsals.

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

Meastro David Stern rehearsing with young violinist Carlos Lazarte in a Bach concerto at the Teatro Municipal in La Paz.

Sopranos Sophia Stern and Sarah Hershkowitz dancing at one of the many fiestas in La Paz.

Jaime Laredo conducting the Bolivia Clasica Youth Chamber Orchestra with his wife, renowned cellist Sharon Robinson, as soloist.

Jaime Laredo performed Bach’s Double Violin Concerto with violinists Gabriel Bilbao, Jaime Kaiser, and Albert García.

A trio performance at the Palacio Portales in Cochabamba.

Jaime Laredo and Ana-Maria Vera perform together at the Cancillería in La Paz.

Rehearsing with the Bolivia Clásica Youth Orchestra.

A masterclass with Gabriel Bilbao.

The Bolivia Clásica String Quartet masterclass with Sharon Robinson.

In 2015, John Dunton-Downer commissioned a piano concerto to celebrate his wife Ana-Maria Vera’s 50th birthday. Bolivia’s highly esteemed living composer, her friend Alberto Villalpando, wrote a piece based on native Bolivian themes for Ana-Maria and the Bolivia Clasica chamber youth orchestra. Cergio Prudencio, a former pupil and disciple of Villalpando, conducted the premiere at a memorable concert at the Teatro Municipal in La Paz.

Ana-Maria Vera premieres a piano concerto by Bolivian composer Alberto Villalpando, with conductor Cergio Prudencio and the Bolivia Clasica Chamber Orchestra.

Our second international festival brought together musicians from five different countries for performances in the cities of La Paz, El Alto, and Tarija.

Being welcomed to Tarija in 2012 by Rodrigo Paz, the current president of Bolivia.

Japanese violinist Ken Aiso flanked by young Tarijeñas and Tarijeños in native costume.

British clarinettist Matthew Hunt tries out a native wind instrument in Tarija as American violinist Eric Hosler looks on.

British cellist 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

Our concert in El Alto drew a new audience, with over 800 attendees, including families with young children.

Armando gives the orchestra a pep talk before going onstage.

Celebrating after concerts at Auditorio Calvert…

…and the Foreign Ministry in La Paz.

In 2011 the first Bolivia Clasica Festival took in place in La Paz, Bolivia, with an inspiring roster of international soloists performing alongside Bolivian musicians.

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.

Learning about ancient traditions on the Island of the Moon.

A makeshift stage and a grand piano were brought over from the mainland.