7 News Belize

Belizean Musicians Play In Another Regional Orchestra
posted (October 4, 2013)
A month ago, 7News showed you the Youth Orchestra of the Americas who finished their tour in Belize. Belizean violinist Courtney Gillett performed with the prestigious orchestra on that date, and now has another opportunity to do so.

Gillett and fellow violinist Cindy Burgos, have been given an opportunity to practice and tour with another youth orchestra. That group of musicians is called the Central American Youth Orchestra (OJCA), and they've been in Panama for just over a week preparing for their upcoming concerts.

Our Daniel Ortiz was in Panama earlier this week for an international conference, and he got an opportunity to see the OJCA in action during one of their practices. He also spoke with the Gillett and Burgos about the opportunity they're being given. Here's what they told us:

Alejo Campos, President - OJCA
"The orchestra is a special program to bring down the violence in young people around the whole Central American Region and here you have the best musicians around the Central America area. Here you have almost 100 young people making good music."

Greg Vernon, Director - ICA
"Of course you know that Cindy and Courtney is very much into the youth orchestra and choir of Belize. They were chosen because on their merits they are very good players and we felt that they have a good representation here in Central America."

Courtney Gillett, violinist
"It's fantastic because whenever you can see yourself not just as a musician that stays at home and practices but you can travel outside and you are able to share this music with other people in a bigger city, a bigger space and a larger audience that really creates a different scenario for you as a musician. It really motivates you to practice, to want to go back home and inspire other people to do the same thing."

Cindy Burgos, violinist
"This has been one of my dreams come true and it's been such a welcoming experience for me because I am meeting so many musicians from other country and they are sharing their music with me and I share Belizean music to them. The question that I get asking most is where is Belize, so I take out a little map and I explain where that is, but other than that the music is difficult, but we put in long hours of practice, so I didn't know that orchestra life would be like this but I love every second of it."

The OJCA held their first concert for this tour last night.

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