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Carlos Acosta at the House of Commons
05/01/2004
| | Ken Gill, Music Fund trustee, with Carlos Acosta at the House of Commons reception. |
At a packed reception at the House of Commons hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cuba in conjunction with Cuba Solidarity Campaign, in July, Carlos Acosta committed himself to do all he could to support the work of the Music Fund for Cuba and gave his sincere appreciation to the charity’s efforts to date.
The reception was held during the run of the fabulous show ‘Tocororo, A Cuban Tale’, at Sadlers Wells theatre in London. Acosta, star of the Royal Ballet, developed the show based on his own story, fusing contemporary and Afro-Cuban dance and music styles with classical ballet, and rehearsed a company of dancers in Cuba to bring the show to Britain. Carlos said “events such as these remind us all why we see culture as so important. It reminds us of our roots and our determination to help further develop young cultural talent”.
Ian Gibson MP, Chair of the APPG said: ”The fact that Cuba is awash with musicians and dancers of the highest quality is a testament to the importance placed on education in the country”. | Students in Leeds perform in Latin music night
20/05/2004
In May, students at the Leeds College of Music, studying under Cuban maestro, Omar Puente, were inspired to put together their own latin music night to raise money for the Music Fund for Cuba. They had already formed two big bands playing latin music under the direction of Omar, so decided to give a special performance. When seeking support they found enthusiasm – the local HiFi Club gave the venue for free, Havana Club rum donated rum for cocktails, TUMI records donated CDs for raffle prizes and another local venue Viva Cuba gave a voucher for a night out as the top prize. The local Love Music Hate Racism campaign gave encouragement as the event came just prior to local elections troubled by racism. The night was great fun for all and raised over £600 for the Music Fund. For many of the students it was the first such event they had been involved in and organised, down to distributing the flyers, and said they enjoyed it so much they have plans for more such projects. Some of the students said they feel they owe a debt to music education in Cuba, as without it they would not have learnt all they have from their teacher Omar, a product of Cuban music education | Amicus Foundation donate £5000 to the
Music Fund for Cuba
02/06/2004
| | From left: Robert Gomez, Amicus Foundation;Tania Dominguez Gonzalez, Cuban Embassy; Derek Simpson, Amicus Gen. Secretary |
In June, Tania Dominguez Rosas, Cultural and Scientific Counsellor for the Cuban Embassy in Britain was invited to attend the trade union AMICUS conference in Scarborough where she received a wonderful donation of £5000 for the Music Fund for Cuba. Tania thanked AMICUS General Secretary, Derek Simpson, and all AMICUS members who had helped make the donation possible. She spoke of the work of CNEart who oversee the development of music and culture within Cuba’s education service. She explained about the difficulties of obtaining much needed equipment and instruments due to the illegal US blockade.
At a packed evening concert, delegates were entertained by local dancers, musicians and the Cuban trio, Cubania.
The Amicus Foundation, the charitable fund set up by the trade union, produced hundreds of information leaflets about the work of the Music Fund to distribute to delegates.
Robert Gomez, Chief Executive of the Amicus Foundation explained:
“We are pleased to support the Music Fund for Cuba which is working hard to help the Cuban people overcome the effects of the blockade”. | Dr Aleida Guevara at charity screening of
‘The Motorcycle Diaries’
18/10/2004
In October, 200 people filled the Everyman Cinema in Hampstead, London for a charity screening of ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’, followed by a Q&A session with Dr Aleida Guevara visiting from Cuba. Since Dr Guevara had edited the diaries for publication everyone was keen to find out more from the ultimate authority.
With the opening question “How did the diaries come to you?” Dr Guevara smiled and warmed to her task: her mother had given her the diaries and notes, telling her that they were the work of a young revolutionary. As Dr Guevara began editing she found herself growing more attached to the young man, embarrassed by some parts of the diaries, but after a while almost falling in love with the voice and thoughts of the writer. Only later did she find out the young man was her father. “Was the film accurate?” Mostly. Her father, of course, was much more handsome than the actor Gael Garcia, and there was indeed a swim across the Amazon, but it was not at night rather in the afternoon. “At what point did Che become a revolutionary?” Not during the period of the diaries, but later, in Mexico.
Dr Guevara signed copies of the book and the evening continued with mojitos, words from MFFC trustees, Jean MacColl and Ken Gill, and ‘Nueva Trova’ songs from Cuban legend Gerardo Alfonso, joined by Aleida for his anthems Sabanas Blancas (about Havana) and Son Los Suenos Todavia, hymn to the memory of Che Guevara. The evening raised over £1000 for the Music Fund with special thanks to sponsors Simons Muirhead & Burton . | Cuban National Ballet School Says "Gracias"!
01/01/2005
| | Dra. Ramona de Saa Bello receives the ballet shoes |
In 2004 the Music Fund received a donation of hundreds of pairs of children's ballet shoes from the Royal Ballet, Covent Garden in London, This was the second consignment of ballet shoes donated.
The shoes were delivered to the Cuban National Ballet School in Havana in December 2004. Dra. Ramona de Saa Bello, director of the school, expressed her warmest thanks for the donation.
The National Ballet School has existed in some form some since 1931. Illuminaries such as Alicia Alonso studied ballet from the unique internationally recognised Cuban ballet teaching method. When the National School of Arts was established in 1962 to give free access to arts education, the National Ballet School became an important arm of it. It now has over 300 fulltime students (from age 13) and 4000 children aged 4-17 taught in afternoon classes. Carlos Acosta, principal guest ballet dancer at the Royal Ballet in London, trained there from a young age in the 1980s.
Violins and string donated by musicians fo the Royal Opera House were also delivered to the Havana Music School. | Teenage group ’Polysonics’ make charity CD
01/01/2005
The ‘Polysonics’ are a barbershop group set up in 2002 as a group to sing in the inter-house music competition at Lancing College, West Sussex. It is student-run and is currently made up of 10 boys from the school, aged 14-18, all from the same house (Teme House). The group made a CD just before Christmas in 2003 in order to raise money for various charities and have made over £1200 profit so far from it. Some money is being kept in reserve with the intention of making another CD for charity. The rest, 70%, is being divided up between five charities as chosen by the members of the group. One member chose Music Fund for Cuba.
The group has participated in many other events, including singing in Prep schools in the area and, last summer, singing in a joint concert with The Din & Tonics of Harvard University, USA, a world-renowned group.
So far over £75 has been donated to the Music Fund For Cuba.
For more information about the group or the CD please contact the group at e-mail: timmy_robson2002@lancing.org.uk
If you are a student or young person, a budding musician or performing artist or just passionate about Cuban music & arts, and you have an interesting idea for supporting the Music Fund for Cuba we want to hear from you! | In Memory of Joe Scurfield
01/10/2005
Over £3,000 in donations have flooded in to the Music Fund from friends, family and fans of Joe Scurfield, who sadly died in June 2005. Joe was a musician and a life-long socialist, trade unionst and activist. He was the creative genius behind the Old Rope String Band, which took its music on tour across the UK and Europe for nearly twenty years. | New text for music teachers
22/11/2005
The music fund has arranged the publication of an education text in spanish for muic teachers in Cuba. Written by the Cuban music academic Alina Ponsada, the book is an introductory course in the methodology of music education for teachers of children at primary school level. A very big thanks go to Chambers publishers in London for publishing thousands of these books which have now been distributed to teachers all over the island. | A farewell to Kirsty
01/06/2006
| | Kirtsy MacColls mother and son |
Kirsty MacColl's love of Cuba, its people and music inspired the founding of the Music Fund for Cuba, set up in 2001 in her memory.
In May of last year, Kirsty's mother Jean wrote a letter to the Fund to say that close friends and family had travelled to Cuba to scatter Kirsty's ashes off the coast of Havana.
She said "this was a place where she found great musical inspiration and enjoyed the warmth and friendliness of fellow musicians and the Cuban people".
Cuban violinist and friend Omar Puente accompanied the simple ceremony with a piece especially composed for Kirsty. Jean said she had come to understand Kirsty's passion for the island. | Silvio Rodríguez to perform in London 22nd September for the Music Fund for Cuba
08/06/2006
| | Silvio Rodríguez: continuing to make the soundtrack of the Cuban Revolution |
Music Fund for Cuba presents
‘Hombre de las mil canciones’
Silvio Rodríguez and his band
For one night only the Godfather of the Cuban Nueva Trova movement performs his first London show for 15 years.
With a unique supporting set by friends of the Music Fund for Cuba featuring John Williams, Madness, Ska Cubano plus very special guests.
Friday 22nd September 2006
7.30pm
Barbican Centre, London
Box Office Tel: 020 7638 8891 (9am-8pm daily)
www.barbican.org.uk
Special Offer:
There are a limited number of specially priced tickets available to supporters of Music Fund for Cuba which include entry to the post-concert celebrity cocktail reception. Contact MFFC on 020 7263 6452 or the Barbican Centre 020 7638 8891
Silvio Rodríguez: continuing to make the soundtrack of the Cuban Revolution
On 22nd September, London will be honoured with the presence of the legendary godfather of the Cuban Nueva Trova movement, Silvio Rodríguez. A very rare visitor to Britain, this will be truly a night to remember.
Nueva Trova (best translated as ‘new song’) is a form of protest music incorporating influences from Cuban traditional and popular genres plus jazz, rock, European classical music, led from the late ‘60s in revolutionary Cuba by Silvio, Pablo Milanés, Noel Nicola, Sara Gonzalez, Pedro Luís Ferrer and with roots in the songs of Carlos Puebla and other traditional trova artists. ‘Trova’ comes from ‘trovador’ ( troubadour) the early guitar singer-songwriters who performed popular songs about and for the people. Nueva Trova was part of a pan-Latin American song movement known as Nueva Cancíon, in which the lyrics reflect an attempt to escape commercial banality and address issues such as political justice, sexism, colonialism.
Now almost 60, Silvio has been performing his own tender songs of love, loss, regret, political commitment, doubt and determination with his guitar since his public debut in 1967. He had begun composing aged 13 while participating in the Literacy Campaign and continued through his military service. He is known for his eloquent, symbolic and questioning lyrics and many of his songs have become anthems across Latin America as well as in Cuba, such as ‘Cancíon urgente por Nicaragua’. He has said “I have always written according to my taste and my conscience”.
When Silvio participated in an international protest song festival in 1968, his songs were broadcast on the radio and TV in Cuba. Despite this success, he was always looking for new audiences away from the limelight – in universities, factories, schools, workplaces, fields, military units. He says he felt being on TV was an accident and the most important thing for him was to have direct contact with the public and that people find their own meaning in his songs. He aimed to minimise the gap between performer and audience. In 1968 he worked as crew on a fishing boat for 5 months during which time he wrote 72 songs, including the famous ‘Ojalá’ and ‘Playa Girón’.
In 1970 Silvio joined the Experimental Sound Group based at ICAIC (Cuban Film Institute) just established under the direction of Leo Brouwer. This period was a hugely dynamic one for all the arts, as artists sought to express a uniquely Cuban modern creative identity after centuries of colonisation, an endeavour supported by the cultural institutions established by the revolutionary government. Support of the Group by Haydée Santamaría at the Casa de las Americas and the National Council for Culture produced an intense cultural exchange between young composers and performers of progressive popular music across Latin America: Victor Jara from Chile, Isabel and Angel Parra from Peru and many others visited Cuba, to exchange ideas, learn each other’s indigenous songs and instruments, to create new songs with social content and using the electronic resources of the day.
Since then Silvio has composed for films as well as made 15 albums, many solo and some with the group Afrocuba. He has continued to evolve as an independent and uncompromising artist, reflecting the uncertainties in Cuba during the ‘90s in his lyrics. He is one of Cuba’s most influential intellectuals and was elected an MP in 2003. His most recent album, ‘Cita con Angeles’ (‘Appointment with Angels’2003) is a poetic response to the Iraq war, while lamenting the early death of his heroes such as José Martí, Martin Luther King and John Lennon, incorporating their words and music.
In April 2006 Silvio was presented by the Academy of Music Arts and Sciences in Spain with the Latin Lifetime Achievement Award for his 30 years work making songs that are “a symbol of social and political commitment and an example of poetic writing.”
Silvio is currently working on a new album, Erase que se era (It was once what it was), uniting themes composed in the most prolific time of his life, the late 60’s. He is also preparing an anthology of songs by Noel Nicola, fellow Nueva Trova singer who died last year, and composing music for the animated feature film Meñique (Little finger), produced by ICAIC. | Project Teatro Miramar
01/10/2006
| "The theatre will be a beautiful link between the schools and the local community."
Clara Gonzalez, Deputy Director, Naitional School of Arts |
a dream to be realised with your help
In 2006 the Music Fund for Cuba launched its most ambitious fundraising project to date, for the restoration of the Miramar community theatre in Havana: Project Teatro Miramar. The estimated cost of the project is £200,000. The result will see the rebirth of this Havana landmark building. Once again the theatre will resonate with the rhythms of young artistic endeavour.
The theatre
The 600-seat Miramar theatre was built in the 1950s before the revolution, in the Playa district of Havana. Iniatially a musical theatre then a cinema, after the revolution it continued to be used as the cultural centre for the local community but stopped public performances 15 years ago due to disrepair. Close to the office of CNEArt and the National School of Arts, it is still used for rehearsalsby young bands, circus and dance groups but its role could be so much more.
The challenges
In the early 90s the Cuban economy suffered a dramatic downturn after the collapse of the Soviet Union, its then main trading partner, which, combined with the US economic blockade, meant no resources to repair the theatre, like many other buildings in Cuba. Mayle Benitez, CNEArt deputy director says:"The air conditioning required imported spare parts to keep it working and so couldn't be repaired. The roof got damaged by a hurricane and began to let in water, the audio system broke down and could not be repaired, and the seats are worn out as they are now so old, but we could not afford replacements."
The CNEArt team estimate that the restoration project will take about two years to complete.
The dream
CNEArt and the National School of Arts dream of all the schools of dance, theatre, circus and music being able to stage productions there, and having a proper rehersal space. The theatre will also play a very important role in the local community - providing a much needed cultural centre for all ages, but especially for children and young people. The schools of arts will be able to run projects in the local community.
Says Mayle Benitez, CNEArt: "For us it is a dream to have this theatre workng again. If the Music Fund can help us do this it will be simply a dream come true." | Silvio Rodriguez concert a huge boost for Music fund for Cuba
04/10/2006
| | John Williams joins Silvio for their stunning duet |
2000 lucky concert goers were treated to a very special night at the Barbican as they welcomed Cuban music legend Silvio Rodriguéz to the UK for the first time in nearly 20 years. The show was one of the fastest selling ever Latin shows in the UK and the queues for returns on the night stretched right through the Barbican foyer.
The night began with a wonderful set from Ska Cubano who immediately got the whole audience on their feet. They were later joined by members of legendary band Madness including Suggs himself, and a unique Ska collaboration ensued featuring some versions of classic Madness tracks.
After the interval Silvio emerged to a standing ovation, and with his excellent group alongside him, launched into the first of many classics that would punctuate his set. The biggest surprise was that the newer material entranced the crowd in the same way as the more familiar numbers, showing that Silvio has not lost his touch when it comes to engaging with current events.
As well as being a long-serving member of the Cuban national assembly, Silvio is a key figure in Latin American music, with a vast and devoted audience all over the Spanish speaking world: as his set progressed it became clear how much his poetic songs of struggle and revolution meant to people in the audience. This was never more true than when he held the audience rapt with 'Sinuhe', a song contrasting the Baghdad of our childhood imagination, a place of wonder and legend, and the reality of the city during and since the war- 'A thousand and one nights of intimidation, a thousand and one nights of fire and shame' replacing the familiar fairy tales. This was the high point of the set and fully justified his reputation as a master songwriter and the heir and brother to Victor Jara of Chile.
Silvio is approaching his 60th birthday and he promised to spend the
year singing the songs people wanted to hear. He didn't disappoint as the set drew to an emotional close and ovation after ovation drew 'Ojala', 'Playa Giron' and possibly the most poignant of all, 'Unicornio' from the huge list of favourites. For one song only Silvio was joined by the renowned guitarist John Williams and together they performed an emotionally charged track that illustrated the uniqueness of the night. By the end, the audience were singing every word, delighted at last to be in the presence of one of the true greats of Latin American music. After five encores the show was over and one of this most memorable of nights drew to a close.
At a charity reception immediately after the show Charity Director, and event organiser, Rob Miller thanked the performers “We are extremely grateful to them all. Thanks to them and this wonderful audience, we have raised many thousands of pounds. Silvio’s songs speak to millions across the world. To have him perform here in the UK and help launch this appeal is a double honour.”Ken Gill, one of the patrons if the Music Fund said: “The reception that the audience gave to Silvio reflects the tremendously high regard in which people hold Cuban culture generally.”
Also present was Jean MacColl another trustee of the fund, and the mother of the late singer Kirsty MacColl, in whose honour the fund was established.
Along with Silvio and his band, all of the artists had given their services for free. The Music fund for Cuba organised the concert as a launch pad for a £200,000 appeal to raise funds to restore the Miramar theatre and performance space in Havana.
The Music Fund for Cuba is a UK registered charity that works with the Cuban National Centre of Arts and Music Schools CNEArt to meet educational needs in the music and arts.
More photos in gallery section | Buena Vista Label invests in Cuba's musical future
30/01/2007
World Circuit Records, the label behind the Buena Vista Social Club phenomenon celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2006 by donating an amazing £10,000 to the Music Fund for Cuba.
Nick Gold of World Circuit said; "There are many aspects that make Cuban music so special to me. There is an extraordinary variety and depth to Cuban music and the musicians I have worked with have a deep wisdom and understanding as well as love of their music and its history.
I have been extremely impressed by the technical level of musicianship and also the desire to innovate and not to stand still. There is a very high regard for ensemble playing and a great deal of support amongst the musicians and they are always ready to listen and experiment. They have a high regard for their peers and the heroes of the past a deep pride in their country's music, which they value above all others. The music has it all: wonderful melodies, a matchless rhythm, great muscianship, intelligence, as well as a great sense of humour.
I was really impressed with the project to renovate the Teatro Miramar, it is and honour to be able to contribute in some way." | You can now donate online directly to the Music Fund for Cuba
22/03/2007
You can now donate online directly to the Music Fund for Cuba.
Simply visit the Just Giving website, where you can donate directly to the Fund or set up a page for your own sponsored event. |
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