Pequeños Cantores de los Andes conquer French public

(Caracas, July 16, 2007).- The French public were captivated by the choral performance of the Pequeños Cantores de los Andes - chapter of the CAF Social Action Program for Music, with the support of the Venezuelan Schola Cantorum Foundation and the International Choral Federation. The coral group ended its successful concert tour last week at the Polyfollia Festival 2007, held annually in Normandy (France) which is a showcase for the world’s best choirs to promote choral singing internationally.

Pequeños Cantores de los Andes is formed by 41 children from the most underprivileged sectors of the barrios of the large cities of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. The members are chosen from the universe of 4,000 children who form this initiative begun four years ago through the CAF Social Action for Music Program. On this occasion, the choir was under the artistic direction of Alberto Grau, Ana María Raga, Luimar Arismendi, Isabel Palacios and Víctor González.

After the two concerts in Caracas - one at Simon Bolivar University and the other in the CAF headquarters - the choir left for France where they gave five successful concert to full houses from July 7 to 12 in various localities of Normandy: Saint-Lô, Barneville-Carteret, Luc-sur-Mer, Halles de Dives-sur-Mer and Cheviré le Rouge.

The Andean singers captivated the 2,500 French spectators at five concerts held during the festival, as reported in the French press and television present at the performance. The regional newspaper La Presse de la Manche reported on the performance of the Andean choir: "It was announced as something exceptional and it really was. Their concert delighted all the public present, many of whom were visibly moved. Comments included: “We heard splendid voices both the choir and the soloists”; "An entry of such beauty brought tears to our eyes"; “The smiling faces, unwaveringly concentrated on the choir director"; "Use of palms, feet, bodies in movement: expressive and rhythmic gestures which extended the singing.”

French television was also present at the festival and emphasized the “emotion” of the spectacle. This important Venezuelan choral movement had already been the subject of a near half-hour long documentary on French Channel 3, filmed in March in Caracas. The report was transmitted on June 23 by the French Channel and can be seen on the internet on the Polyfollia website.

Festival organizer and director Jacques Vanherle was also enthusiastic about the performance of the young people: "I took some time from the festival whirlwind to express all the happiness the concerts of the Pequeños Cantores de los Andes have given us. They sang, danced ... really polished! They have shown an insuperable musical quality which everyone has admired. The children worked marvelously. So much music and joy given and received, so much emotion, so many tears, bravo!"

This project is part of CAF’s Social Responsibility activities through its Social Action for Music Program. Over 30,000 children and young people from the region form the Andean musical network promoted by the Corporation since 2000 covering choral, orchestral and string instruments.