Photo: Ayano Hisa

PlazaCUBA joins Horns to Havana to send instruments to
la Escuela Nacional de Música (La ENA) in Havana.

PlazaCUBA is honored to announce a partnership with Horns to Havana, a non-profit organization established by a group of musicians from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra after they visited Havana in October 2010. These musicians, led by Carlos Henriquez, distinguished bassist for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, are rallying to take instruments to schools in Havana, where clinics, workshops, and instrument repairs will also take place.

Photo: Ayano Hisa

“…Weeks after they had returned home, the band members were still talking about the love and respect that Cubans have for their musicians, dancers, and performing artists. But they also saw gifted students without instruments…In Havana, in even the best schools, there are not nearly enough working instruments for the young people who want to learn to play.” Working under the umbrella of the Center for Cuban Studies in New York, the Horns to Havana committee and partnering organizations, such as PlazaCUBA, plan to raise enough money to fly a full planeload of instruments to Havana. Four designated schools will be the recipients of these instruments.

CUBAN SCHOOLS SUPPORTED:
Manuel Saumell Conservatory
Amadeo Roldan Conservatory
Guillermo Tomas Bouffaratigue Music Conservatory
Escuela Nacional de Arte (La ENA)

HOW TO DONATE: There are two ways to participate in Horns to Havana: monetary donation and direct donation of instruments. You can find out more about how to donate on the Horns to Havana website. Please mention “PlazaCUBA” with your donation. Contact PlazaCUBA if you would like to volunteer.

MELISSA DAAR PARTNERS WITH
PLAZACUBA TO ADOPT LA ENA
Melissa Daar, who directed Caribbean Music & Dance (CMDP) in the 1990s, is partnering with PlazaCUBA and Horns to Havana to support the Escuela Nacional de Música (La ENA). They are calling on the hundreds of people who have studied at the school or traveled to Cuba with CMDP and PlazaCUBA during the past twenty years, to come together to support this premier music school.

In the early 90s, Melissa Daar, along with Deborah "Ruby" Badhia, Lisa Maria Salb and Carolina Sanchez, brought the first Americans to the ENA to study with Cuban musicians and dancers. Among those accompanying her on these early adventures were Bay Area musicians like Wayne Wallace, Ron Stallings, Rebecca Mauleon, John Calloway and Javier Navarette. At the ENA, Cubans and Americans shared music and began long artistic collaborations and friendships.

PlazaCUBA, under the direction of Alisa Froman, continued the CMDP tradition by bringing American students to study at the ENA. Over the last decade, Alisa has watched the familiar faces of many talented ENA students join the ranks of Cuba’s top orchestras, like Paulito FG, Manolito y su Trabuco and Los Que Son Son, directed by Cesar “Pupy” Pedroso. Pupy is one of the most prominent supporters of music education in the schools and he has a long history with the ENA, teaching and performing there regularly.

Melissa and Alisa have adopted the ENA and are now joining forces to raise funds and send instruments that will specifically benefit La ENA, Havana’s National School of Music. They are forming a committee, which will include Bay Area musicians and dancers who studied at the school or traveled to Cuba with them over the years, to support this project and help them send horns to Havana.

WISH LIST: Horns to Havana’s intention is to outfit a complete orchestra for each of the four target schools. Here is their dream wish list:	Photo: Frank Stewart
4 basses 4 baritone saxes 4 drum sets 8 flutes 4 electric basses 12 clarinets 8 guitars 12 trombones 8 tenor saxophones 4 base trombones 8 alto saxophones 16 trumpets
Also needed are mouthpieces for trombones, saxes, trumpets, bass strings and bows, drumheads (10”-20”), drum practice pads and sticks. Also welcome are flugelhorns, violins, oboes, cornets, straight saxes, and bassoons.

We are excited to join this amazing project, which will make a real difference in the lives of so many students. Thank you for your contributions!