What for some is just another job literally saved my life. I am in love with my wife, my family, our planet, and even Hive; but I also have the privilege of saying that I am completely in love with my work—with the entire journey I undertook to reach it, and with the professional growth I have experienced during my nearly nine years as part of this project. As is the case with anything successful, there is opposition and criticism regarding the way individuals or organizations chart their course; however, I am of the opinion that it is not what is said that matters, but the facts. Actions are what reveal reality—and in my case, it is abundantly clear that I was always meant to be a part of what I now call my home.
In just a few hours, our National Choir’s 20th Anniversary concert will begin; and although I have only been part of this project for nine years, in terms of passion, I feel like one of its founders. I have eagerly awaited this day—as well as the celebrations we’ve held over the past few weeks. In fact, I will be seeing my mother today for the first time in a while, which only heightens the excitement of the moment—for she knows just how much I longed to be part of this project, and the deep love I have held for music and choral singing for as long as I can remember.
I came very close to giving up on my dream before I had even begun, since I started out here during my country’s darkest hour—and that is saying a lot, considering it often feels like we’ve been stuck in our "darkest hour" for decades! 😅 But yes, there was indeed a particularly extreme period; and just as I was on the verge of succumbing to madness, music revealed its finest face to me, offering an opportunity to become part of something truly great. It didn't promise me the chance to shine alone, but I didn't mind—for that time of adversity had taught me that great things are built together, in community. And now, with the wisdom of my nearly 38 years, I understand that I have always shone—that my light simply joined forces with a larger beacon, one brimming with energy, love, and musical vitality.
My schedule for writing posts is very tight today; I have a great deal to prepare for tonight's celebration, so I couldn't find inspiration in anything other than my work, my choir, and the love and gratitude I feel for experiencing this moment. I’d like to share with you this video, which has been promoted to invite the Venezuelan public to our anniversary concert; I also want to let you know that this is our organization's new YouTube channel. I am unsure why our old channel—which held years upon years of recordings—is no longer functioning, but this new one serves as a continuation where you can watch performances by both the orchestra and the choir.
Also included below, I’ve left a second video and a link to one of our secondary YouTube channels: Vive El Sistema Fest—an annual event that showcases the very best performances from that festival. You will find plenty of content featuring our choral ensemble there as well, even though we also have our official YouTube channel, which you can find under the name: Coral Nacional Simón Bolívar. ❤️ Thank you all for reading and for your support; I hope you enjoy the music we share here and that you find the repertoire—spanning sacred, Venezuelan, Latin American, and world choral music—to be a source of delight 🙏