With a vibrant concert, "Huila in Harmony: Music for Peace", children, teenagers, and adolescents from the presidential program Sounds for Building Peace across different municipalities of the department experienced a significant event on November 26 at the Multipurpose Hall of the Jorge Villamil Music Park in Neiva. They presented a medium-scale artistic performance, celebrating the cultural and musical richness of the region.

The concert featured the remarkable participation of students from educational institutions in the municipalities of Acevedo, Gigante, La Plata, Tello, and Rivera, who shone in an ensemble with the Neiva Metropolitan Band. The audience witnessed a spectacle where traditional genres and expressions, such as the rajaleña, and the sounds of wind instruments, drums, and voices resonated with the message of building peace through art and culture.

Artistic Residency: Preparing the Stage for Peace

Before the concert, children, teenagers, and adolescents participated in an artistic residency as part of their preparation. This initiative has become a distinctive hallmark of the University of Cauca in the execution of medium-scale performances, fostering teamwork, mutual learning, diversity, and coexistence.

In addition to interacting with students from other educational institutions, the participants exchanged experiences and knowledge, integrating their artistic expressions into a collective ensemble alongside the Neiva Metropolitan Band. This process not only strengthened the participants' musical skills but also nurtured bonds of camaraderie and respect, reaffirming the power of music as a tool to unite territories and instill values of peace.

A Transformative Experience

The event was not just a concert but an opportunity to recognize how music has transformed classrooms and communities in Huila. The children and youth, as the main protagonists, showcased through their music what it means to be part of a process that fosters respect for cultural and natural diversity while promoting dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

Huila in Harmony stood out as a space where every musical performance served as a testimony to the vital work of trainers, cultural mentors, managers, and local supporters implementing this pedagogical strategy in the region.

The gathering, which brought together talent, diversity, and hope, left the community with a deep sense of belonging. From the traditional sounds of wind instruments and drums to the harmonious choral performances by the children, the message was clear: peace can also be built through education, art, and culture.

The Presidential Program Sounds for Building Peace, led by the University of Cauca in the departments of Cauca, Huila, and Nariño, expresses its gratitude to the participating educational institutions, teachers, students, and families who have been fundamental to this process.

Through a partnership with the Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Knowledge, the University of Cauca reaffirms its commitment to strengthening Huila's cultural and social fabric through music and the arts. Huila in Harmony is just another step in the consolidation of a national strategy that recognizes cultural and territorial diversity as the foundation for building a peaceful country.

Presidential Program Sounds for Building Peace
Zone 6 Team
University of Cauca

Written by: Presidential Program Sounds for Building Peace, Zone 6 Team.