World Music Series: Chicago Cuatro Orchestra

In 1996, public school teacher Orlando Rivera saw two interrelated needs: inner city kids in his hometown of Chicago needed a way to build self-esteem, and local communities needed an organization to rally around. Orlando began offering free after-school lessons in playing the cuatro, a plucked string instrument used in Puerto Rican jibaro music.

Twenty years later, Orlando’s vision has evolved into the Chicago Cuatro Orchestra Project (CCOP), an ensemble that gives free lessons to students (aged 6 to 60!) with diverse backgrounds. But now, as an orchestra, CCOP also performs regularly.  

This fall, CCOP wants to bring the tradition of jibaro music to Eugene for a series of concerts, student-master musician interaction, and local K-12 school outreach. And that plan is music to the UO World Music Series’ ears!

As you can imagine, the airfare to get fifteen members of the orchestra from Chicago to Eugene, not to mention food and lodging, is expensive — a lot more than ticket sales can bring in —so we’re seeking your help to make this dream a reality. 

That is why we are using this Duckfunder campaign to raise the necessary funds. Please consider making a gift here.  Or contact Assistant Professor Juan Eduardo Wolf at uoworldmusic@uoregon.edu to find how you, your employer, or your business can get involved! 

The UO World Music Series has a proven record of success—and of carefully managing its funds. In fall 2014, Andean group Phusiri Marka got you dancing in the Beall Hall lobby (http://tinyurl.com/hjc8eon). In spring 2015, South Indian flute master Shantala Subramanyam workshopped with UO flutists (http://tinyurl.com/zxa5e42). And in winter 2015, the school kids at Eugene's River Road elementary danced along with Puerto Rican bomba activist Pablo Luis Rivera (http://tinyurl.com/zmwzuk9).

Please help the UO World Music Series add one more successful enrichment program to the Eugene world music scene, and help us celebrate community connections!