Four faculty members from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music traveled to Guanajuato, Mexico, in May as part of the Cuban American Youth Orchestra’s inaugural Woodwind Week Mexico, a cultural exchange program that brought together wind musicians from across the United States and Mexico for master classes, side-by-side rehearsals and public performances.
The trip marked the first Mexico program for CAYO, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit founded by clarinetist Rena Kraut ’01, who serves as executive director. The organization promotes U.S.-Cuba cultural diplomacy through education, exchange and performance. Original plans to hold the program in Cuba were redirected due to the current global landscape.
Benjamin Kamins, the Lynette S. Autrey Professor of Bassoon, along with oboe professor Erin Hannigan, horn professor Elizabeth Freimuth and recently retired associate professor Janet Rarick joined teaching professors and students from Rice, Eastman School of Music, DePaul University and the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music at the event.
“Through school visits, house concerts and lessons, the faculty lived out our motto, ‘The world is a better place when you know your neighbors,’” Kraut said.
The faculty visited two institutions during the week. At Academia Renacimiento, which Kamins called an “extraordinary community music school” modeled in the spirit of Venezuela’s El Sistema system, U.S. faculty and students joined local ensembles in rehearsal before leading individual master classes for both groups.
At the Conservatorio de Celaya in the nearby city of Celaya, the combined groups rehearsed and performed the Richard Strauss Serenade, Op. 7 and the Joachim Raff Sinfonietta. The group also gave two public performances in Guanajuato throughout the week.
“We could barely communicate with each other through language, but we were able to form deep connections through music,” Freimuth said. “I am certain that I am a better person, teacher and musician having had this experience. I also have a bigger appreciation of the universal nature of the language of music.”
“We have a special culture at the Shepherd School, and sharing this experience alongside two other faculty members and one graduate made the collaboration especially meaningful,” Hannigan said. “It was incredibly rewarding to perform together, and we witnessed unique artistry, curiosity and heart from every student involved. The warmth and musical spirit of Guanajuato inspired all of us.”
More information about CAYO and its programs is available at CAYO’s website.
