The melody escapes beyond the José Peón Contreras theater. It’s so faint, so distant, that for a second I think it’s my imagination, but there is a strength and emotion that I’d never be able to recreate in my mind. The Yucatán Symphony Orchestra (OSY) is in the middle of its rehearsal for that night’s concert. If I wanted to, I could go to the box office and buy a ticket or two for a perfect evening. If I don’t, it’s for one simple reason: my ticket is already waiting for me at home.
Although the story above is a memory, the opportunity to enjoy an exciting concert by the Yucatán Symphony Orchestra is still a reality. The OSY is currently beginning their 36th season; this means 17 uninterrupted years bringing music to people of all ages who decide to venture down this wonderful path. As Margarita Molina Zaldívar, President of the Patronato para la Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán, shared with me, “the orchestra is the dream of many Yucatecans.”
However, the OSY has transcended beyond its Friday and Sunday concerts to extend its influence into Yucatecan society in other ways. More than 60 local, national, and international musicians have become teachers to the next generation of artists through the Escuela Superior de Artes de Yucatán and the Centro de Música José Jacinto Cuevas. Many of them are also private instructors.
The musicians of the Yucatán Symphony Orchestra have also organized themselves over the years to form independent groups that perform at weddings and special events, promote festivals, and hold competitions. Initiatives like these “complement the classes they teach,” recalls Margarita Molina Zaldívar.
One must not forget Sinfonízate, a program dedicated to providing musical experiences to students at different levels, from elementary school to university. Besides listening to the OSY’s rehearsal free of charge, they’re provided with a booklet to learn about the musical culture in an accessible way – who knows? it could be a child’s first encounter with a lifelong passion.
Lend a Hand, Support the Yucatán Symphony Orchestra
The OSY is an institution that injects vitality and identity into the Yucatecan community. It’s partly a government-funded project, but it still needs the helping hand of its patrons to continue inspiring and enriching the cultural life of Yucatán. To support them, you can contribute with tax-deductible monthly donations through the Patronato para la Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán.
Patronato para la Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán A. C.
Tel. (999) 948 4242
www.patronatoosy.com.mx
FB: Patronato para la Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán
IG: @patronatoosy
Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán
Teatro José Peón Contreras
Calle 60 x 59 y 57, Centro
Boletos en taquilla: lun. – vie. 9 am – 3 pm (viernes de concierto: 9 am – 8:30 pm)
www.sinfonicadeyucatan.com.mx
FB: Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán
IG: @orquestasinfonicadeyucatan
Editorial by Olivia Camarena
Yucatecan communicologist. Your favorite Assistant Editor. Writer, blogger, and bookstagrammer in her spare time. She also experiments with TikTok.
Photography by the Orquest Sinfónica de Yucatán for its use in Yucatán Today.
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