This 10-days long activity will include concerts and recitals by local and guest artists, the National Symphony Orchestra of Panama, the Orquesta Juvenil Istmeña and the Alfredo De Saint Malo Festival Orchestra. It will also feature a series of master classes, lectures, workshops, private lessons, and didactic concerts which will benefit hundreds of young musicians and about 5,000 of school children in the Republic of Panama.

The Festival is designed to promote music education, appreciation, and performance in Panama, where these opportunities for young musicians are quite limited. 

Featured Artists
Becoming an international festival, aside from the local artists, the ASM Festival 2010 will host guest artists from Brasil, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Paraguay, Spain, and the United States. The Youth Orchestra of the Americas is contributing as well by sending some of their alumni, and the University of the Pacific, through the Pacific Arts Woodwind Quintet, will sponsor master classes and workshops. Highlights include appearances of conductor George Mathew and world re-known violinist Rachel Barton Pine. 

Concerts
Many concerts and recitals will be offered at no cost. The Festival will also include didactic concerts at public schools, where some 5,000 children will be able to listen to live chamber music from the Festival’s faculty.

Your support is key
The cost for the festival is estimated in US$100,000, without considering the generous support offered by the Department of Music at Baylor. Patronage opportunities in Panama are as limited as education and performance opportunities for musicians. Still, young players and composers work every day toward a professional career in music. Some have managed to earn advanced graduate degrees, orchestra positions, and Fulbright Scholarships, among other distinctions. We could achieve much more with your support, always keeping in mind that our commitment with education and outreach programs should be the keystone to any developing arts community. For more information about donations, please visit the Support section.