Orchestra Flies Down to Play in Argentina

Samo’s Symphony Orchestra ventured to the South Equator this spring break for eleven days as they toured through Argentina and Uruguay. The group specifically explored Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Rosario, with concerts planned for each location. The theaters were Facultad de Derecho at the University of Buenos Aires, Uruguay’s oldest theatre Teatro Solis and immigrant opera house Teatro el Circulo in Rosario. The three free concerts hosted audiences ranging from school students, to other tourists and residents of the cities. Students witnessed a television news broadcast displaying and presenting their performance on monitors throughout the market place.“My favorite part of the tour was when the Argentinian people sang the national anthem as we played. It was a truly moving experiencing that I know I may never be able to relive,” Sarah Ogata (’20) said.The tour gave students the opportunity to participate in masterclasses with Argentinian natives, furthering their interpretations of the music through the exposure to the culture, as well as being fully immersed in the true lifestyle of famous South American musicians. Specifically, the woodwinds worked with the principal clarinetist of the Buenos Aires Symphony Orchestra, the brass with one of the best trombone players in Argentina and the orchestra with a master tango violinist and bassist. These were unique opportunities that students may never be able to re-experience.“Musically, our students gained much in terms of how tango music has influenced the culture in Argentina and Uruguay. We received masterclasses from the top musicians in Buenos Aires,” Orchestra Director Joni Swenson said.As well as the musical benefits, students and chaperones enjoyed the cities and were allotted time to venture individually, in addition to visiting tourist attractions as a larger group. Such attractions included a tour of Argentina’s capital building Casa Rosada, the President’s private office, Recoleta Cemetery, Evita Museum, Teatro Colon, La Boca, Fundación Proa (Contemporary Art Museum) with the art exhibit of Ai Weiwei and many more. With guided or self-guided tours at each appeal, students were learning about the true history of such nations and gaining the academic aspect of the tour. There were three specialized tour guides traveling with the group, as well as further assistance and advice by guest conductor Martin Fraile.“From a cultural and historical standpoint, our students learned about the turbulent history that occurred in the not so distant past in Argentina,” Swenson said.As one may expect based of the immensity of the tour group, there were slight turbulences on the trip, and not just on the flights. Students flying with Latam airlines unexpectedly spent an extra 14 hours in the Buenos Aires airport as they restlessly awaited the departure of their delayed and rerouted flight. However, all students returned back to Los Angeles safely and just in time for school the next day. The travelers were lucky to have the privilege to take part in such a once in a lifetime experience, and are grateful to music directors Swenson and Jason Aiello for the incredible amount of work and years of preparation leading up to the tour, as well as the dedication from chaperones and parent volunteers who also accompanied.“The tour was a complete success. I am hugely proud of the Samo Symphony students who served as wonderful ambassadors. Our symphony musicians prepared music that we rehearsed since the beginning of the year, and it was a joy to see the entire repertoire performed so beautifully to appreciative South American audiences,” Swenson said.