(InfoWebPress – www.journalcr.com) —
During a recent visit to Nicoya, Costa Rican President Oscar Arias and Culture and Youth Minister Maria Elena Carballo cut the ribbon at an inauguration ceremony for the New Nicoya Peninsular Music School — the result of efforts by the National Public Music Education System (SINEM) to promote art
and culture through music in the country. The ceremony was held at the Nicoya Church. According to Minister Carballo, the new music school’s goal is to promote the formation of musicians based on symphonic music, but without forgetting cultural traditions of the region.
“The progress of SINEM is impressive, not only because of governmental support, but because of the interest the community has demonstrated. In Nicoya, rescuing its musical tradition is essential, and this school will strengthen it, allowing new talent to sprout with its own traditions,” Carballo said.
SINEM helps children and teenagers in communities that need priority attention to play a musical instrument; become part of youth orchestras, concert bands or choirs; and have the ability to take part in chamber music recitals and offer concerts as soloists.
The New Nicoya Peninsular Music School opened its doors last September, and enrollment has reached 575 students raging from four to 19 years of age from communities such as Nosara, Nicoya and Santa Cruz. “The creation of a music school is a great reason for happiness, but only because many
kids will finally have the opportunity to study music, but also because we are helping them stay away from drugs, alcohol and crime,” Carballo pointed out.
Recently, Liberia’s public library also benefited from a donation from the cooperation program of the U.S. Embassy, thanks to which users of two public libraries and students with SINEM will enjoy new audiovisual equipment and musical instruments. In addition to the Liberia library, benefiting from the donation was also the library at Zaragoza in Palmares. It is estimated that the Liberia library annually serves 22,000 people, while the one in Zaragoza has some 45,000 users — among them elementary and secondary school students. Each of the libraries received 68 audiovisual items, a 42- inch plasma TV and a DVD player to support the institutions’ film projects.
The U.S. Embassy delivered the items through the Ministry of Culture and Youth. Also donated were a piano, microphones, a stereo, chairs, music stands, speakers, plus additional TV sets, DVD players and movies to support other libraries and cultural programs around the country. The total value of the donation is $9,000, which will support the National Development Plan’s culture component that seeks to democratize access to arts.