Over the years we have brought instrumental teachers, luthiers, conductors, singers, music initiation specialists, composers and even actors to Bolivia to offer master classes and teacher-training workshops. As many have come long distances and the work is intensive, they stay for several weeks, sometimes months at a time. This work has provided the groundwork for ongoing consultation and training via online sessions.
Paul Desenne, Mimi Zweig, Katharine Gowers, Francisco Vila, Marie-Francoise Pallot, Lyda Chen-Argerich, Eric Hosler, Willem Stam, Jennifer Stumm and Michel Strauss are among those who have generously contributed to this effort.
American violinist Eric Hosler teaching quartets in El Alto.
Venezuelan-American composer and cellist Paul Desenne during a teacher-training workshop in La Paz.
American soprano Sara Hershkowitz giving master classes in La Paz.
French violinist Marie-Francoise Pallot and Argentine-Chinese violist Lyda Chen Argerich during a session with a young student in La Paz.
Bolivian-Brazilian actor Fernando Arze workshops with the Bolivia Clasica chamber orchestra musicians in Samaipata.
Online lessons are also a big part of what we do, and thanks to our generous network of musicians around the world, students are able to access invaluable sources of knowledge and inspiration.
French cellist Michel Strauss teaching from the Paris Conservatoire during lockdown.
British double bassist Jonny Gee teaching Violeta Mallea from his studio in London, as her teacher Viktor Díaz looks on.
Paraguayan violist Paulo Alonso coaches viola student Isaí Vargas
American violist Jennifer Stumm coaching violin student Jaime Kaiser
Here we are working with kids who don’t have such a fortunate background. It has made me think about my own life, my own journey in a way that I’ve never thought about it before. Anyone coming to work with Bolivia Clasica is going to come away with a different sense of who they are. It is not money driven, it is not status driven, it is purely about creating a future generation of Bolivian musicians.
– Alana Bennett, American cellist