This year, exactly on November 12th, it will be sixty years since the foundation of an institution that fortunately our province has the privilege of having it, because not all of them have that satisfaction.

I refer to the Provincial Choir, a group from my point of view, essential and important for a territory, which defends all genres of music and tries different rhythms, both Cuban and international, accompanies soloists, performs celebratory concerts, tributes, and even Master classes are usually held, very didactic by the way.

Making history

Many are the experiences that I have of our choir, because I have had the great privilege of knowing it since the time when back in the 80’s, of the last century, it began to be directed by the teacher, born in Santiago de Cuba, graduated from Choral Direction at the National School of Art, in 1978: Emilia Díaz Chávez, that cheerful, elegant woman, who always has a smile on her lips for everyone who greets her, even if she is very well dressed for the theater to offer the best of his art, as if she wears a simple outfit to queue for the produce market closest to her house, as I have seen her.

At that time, this emblematic institution had had some ups and downs, according to the music professionals, with whom I related because of working at the Provincial Center for Art and Culture Improvement, a place where I learned a lot about it. I am eternally grateful for the teachings it gave me and above all; because I was able to meet many artists. Some of them have a great career and prestige, others with not so many professional values, but the truth is that I learned from all of them, and today I am friends with most of them.

A large number of members of the aforementioned group passed through the classrooms of this Center, and graduated there as intermediate-level technicians, a degree they obtained after several years of studies that culminated in a graduation recital, where they played a varied repertoire and almost always It was presented at the headquarters of the Symphonic Orchestra or in the Music room of the Julio Antonio Mella Provincial Library or another cultural institution that offered its hand for such a significant occasion.

I remember singing teachers such as Maestro Rosendo Fernández, with his unforgettable voice, he lived on Popular Street between Lope Recio and San Esteban, with his leisurely pace coming to offer his teachings to those young singers who had just joined the choir, then others like Joaquín Peláez, who also shared his professional work with the trade unions, the recently deceased José Urquiza (Pepito, as he was known); and so many, some that sometimes I don’t even remember their names, only their faces.

And the successes continued

A period of splendor for this institution was undoubtedly achieved by Emilia with her high level of professionalism that gave it a certain aura of freshness and renewal, which has made it shine for decades to make it one of the best in the country, obtaining dissimilar awards and being flattered by more than one personality, both nationally and internationally.

Today it is directed by a young girl, with many values ​​as well, according to the experts, Lena Lauzao, who leaves her mark on it and will be able to continue the work of those who offered their art and effort to make the Camagüey Professional Choir, a mandatory reference when it comes to virtuosity.

Let us remember that very important personalities of Cuban musical art passed through it, which later became part of the catalog of excellence of our city.

On the eve of a celebration

Congratulations to those who sing whether in a theater, in a school, in a sugar mill shelter, in a community or in a large recording studio where their voices will endure on one or another medium for posterity.

I am sure that from now on they are preparing for the important date, to which our Historian’s Office will undoubtedly join, where they have shown their values ​​so many times, and I hope that by then we will be able to celebrate a great concert, live, looking at each other and admiring them face to face; and although even with masks we will applaud their works over and over again.

Thank you for your art…!, and our best wishes that the successes continue to multiply for the public and the musical heritage that they adorn.

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García