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.

Opening Measures, a 45-minute documentary about the birth of Bolivia Clásica, directed by John Dunton-Downer.

An early promotional video.

Jennifer Stumm initiated this rooftop Bolivian premiere of a quartet piece by American composer Caroline Shaw.

Our collaboration with the Sociedad Boliviana de Música de Cámara led to memorable performances of Shostakovich’s Concerto for Trumpet, Piano, and String Orchestra, with Bruno Lourensetto (trumpet), Sergio Escalera (piano) and Willem Stam conducting the Bolivia Clásica Chamber Orchestra.

Armando Vera commissioned numerous arrangements for the BC orchestra, continuously expanding the repertoire and challenging the young players, who were on regular rotation.

Press

https://www.latinolife.co.uk/articles/bolivia-clasica

Correodelsur.com/cultura/Bolivia Clasica asombra en primera visita a Sucre