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THE TRIP
Young musicians discover New York and new opportunities

Orquestra de Cordas da Grota musicians at the check in, with Brazilian actress Malu Mader.

For the audience, the performance of Orquestra de Cordas da Grota made this year's Gala a night to remember. For the seven young musicians on their first trip to the United States, the journey was also unforgettable.

"We never thought we would be able to travel so far," said Felipe de Oliveira Caldas, 20, who plays the Viola. "It was like a fairytale."

"A prince tale," Márcio Selles, the maestro underscored.

The musicians and their maestro had only three days to enjoy New York City, and they packed it with as much as they could. They shopped, toured, and in one of the highlights of their trip, attended a performance of The New York Philharmonic Orchestra at Lincoln Center.

Musicians arrive at Cipriani to perform.

The Orquestra de Cordas da Grota arrived at Cipriani's for the gala in a limousine provided by Albatroz Limousine Services, impeccably dressed in black-tie. For many in the audience their performance perfectly gave voice the night's overarching theme: to show the greatness that can be achieved when people are given an opportunity.

A single violoncello on stage silenced the crowd for the first piece: The Kanon by Pachelbel, which was followed by Eine kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart, Mourão by Guerra-Peixe, and Tico-tico no Fubá. The crowd demanded an encore and were granted Asa Branca, by Luiz Gonzaga and Humberto Teixeira.

On the day of the gala, the twins Walter and Wagner de Oliveira Caldas, 21, were profiled on National Public Radio (To hear the broadcast click here http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6073457). The broadcast brought the music to those who weren't present at the gala and sparked new invitations to perform, including one to the play during the World Food Prize in Iowa in October and for the Inter-American Development Bank in March 2007.

Orquestra de Cordas da Grota enter gala performing Canon of Pachelbel.

"There were many victories," Selles said.

The musicians gained their first contact with classical music when they started to take lessons at Reciclarte Institute, which is based in the low-income community of Grota do Surucucu in Niterói where they all grew up. Several of the young men were only nine or 10 years old when they began to take lessons. Today, some are teachers themselves and play in symphonies in Brazil.

Orquestra de Cordas da Grota.

Project Reciclarte, which received BrazilFoundation's support in 2004 and 2005, offers young people in Niterói access to classical music, teaching them how to play string instruments, such as violins, violoncellos, and violas. Reciclarte was founded 20 years ago by a retired elementary school teacher, Otávia Selles, who wanted to create a space where youth would receive support with schoolwork and develop activities that complement academics. Today, Márcio Selles continues his mother's mission as teacher and maestro of the orchestra, which was created in 1995.

To purchase the first CD produced by the Orquestra de Cordas da Grota, send a check for $23.00 written to BrazilFoundation at 345 Seventh Ave. Suite 1401, NY, NY 10001 and a copy will be sent to you by mail.


Click here for 2006 BrazilFoundation's Annual Gala gallery

Click here to read about 2006 BrazilFoundation's Annual Gala in the news.