BY MARK WIJSMAN (STAFF MEMBER FROM HOLLAND)                    
*Photos by Mark Wijsman and Louise Peacock

Most western countries our volunteers come from are spoiled with endless events, concert tours and festivals. With the international melting pot Cape Town has become, you’d suspect the interest of big international artists to be a bit higher.  When the announcement was made, a few months ago, that Coldplay was coming to South Africa, Capetonians went wild and the rush for tickets was incredible. Hosted at Cape Town’s own World Cup Stadium, 60 000 people were made the lucky ones to be able to experience one of the world’s biggest bands of the last 10 years. 

The excitement really mounted a week before the concert. Radio stations had Coldplay’s albums on repeat and social media sites were flooded with statuses of people either unable to hold back their enthusiasm or fans just making others jealous of the fact they were in possession of a ticket.

Hours prior to the concert, bars in Green Point filled up with passionate fans and the front row junkies  already lined up at the stadium from the early afternoon. On the Mediterranean-warm night, incoming flocks of people were kept busy by one of South Africa’s most famous bands, the Parlotones. They played a very entertaining and extensive set prior to Chris Martin and co.’ s arrival, whilst everyone kept busy controlling their nerves and filling up with drinks and snacks.

When the sun set, it was time for the real deal: Coldplay opened their set spectacularly with a massive lightshow and a few of their most famous songs. Despite the magnitude of Cape Town Stadium, slower and more personal songs were kept intimate, and acoustic songs kept the immense crowd quiet and listening. Being a part of a 60 000 people sing-along to ‘Viva la Vida’ and doing a cell phone Mexican wave (with all lights out in the stadium) are  incredible experiences, and would even give non-Coldplay fans chills on such an evening. Attending a concert of such a big band in such a massive venue is a perfect night out, fans or not. Let’s hope Cape Town will pick it up and we’ll be treated to many more of those in the not-too-distant future.

MEXICAN BARRIQUES

This October our city will host many events and celebrations such as the Pan American Games, Las Fiestas de Octubre and The Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, along with innumerable ornaments that will embellish our streets depicting these festivities and Mexican traditions. Some of these ornaments happen to be artistic Mexican barriques designed by some of Guadalajara’s most acclaimed artists, these artistic pieces showcase some of the city’s most iconic traditions in such an exquisite, creative and romantic visionary techniques.

I’m talking about real pieces of art here, killer seductive imagination and innovative artistic demonstrations that simply draw everyone’s attention just like a sailor to a siren’s song, it’s just impossible to ignore, their mesmerizing power is so enchanting that it makes it really hard to turn a blind eye on them even without being an art expert, and I think that’s where the real secret lies hidden, in finding a way to make it accessible and romantic for everyone’s eye and not just for intellectual elitists.

Definitely a feast for the mind and eyes, these Mexican barriques happen to be a true statement of all the traditions and allure that dwells in the beautiful state of Jalisco.

FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL CERVANTINO 2011

Festival Internacional Cervantino is the most important art festival in Mexico and Latin America; and this year is dedicated to Mother Nature from the perspective of art, culture and thought.

The year of 1972 marked the birth of FIC in the city of Guanajuato and consolidated it as the most important multicultural party in the American continent.

A roster of international artists have always embellished the festival’s lineup with iconic names like: B.B. King, Mstislav Rostropovich, Leonard Bernstein; The classic Theater de Roma, Sehsu Shigayama/Kaoru Washiwa; The Camara Stagium Ballet, The Opera Ballet from Armenia, Lazar Berman, Mercedes Sosa, The New York Philharmonic, Joan Baez & Gilbert Bécaud, Nikolais Dance Theatery and the Ballet Bolshoi, The Japanese Theater Sankai Juku, The STU Theater of Polonia and the Hungarian Marionette Theater, Jakowicz y Krystyna Borucinska, Kronos Quartet or Madredeus, The Lindsay Kemp Company and the Royal Shakespeare Company, plus many many more!
 
The Fest will take place from the 12^th- 30^th of October in Guanajuato, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Nayarit are this year’s specials guests.

The FIC has always been based on one very specific goal; to sow in humankind the real present of a world that searches through the spirit to recover the fragile equilibrium and vindicate us as beings capable of reasoning. 

It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock & roll!

Today we say goodbye and wish all the best to our dear friend Jonatan on his new journey for a career in musical production.

Yesterday was Jonatan’s last day in the Mexico office after 8 years of hard work and commitment, not just here in the country where he did an astounding work, but also joining forces with the offices in Argentina, Senegal, Ghana and India during his time here in Projects Abroad, where he showed his skills as a natural leader and a jack of all trades in any given situation.

Now the road takes him somewhere else, a destination yet unknown but filled with new tasks, a different marching tune and a transformed personal search.

We wish you the best on this new rock & roll crusade of yours my friend!

私は今ボリビアの盲学校で、音楽の授業の補助を行うプロジェクトに参加しています。

この施設では、3歳から1５歳と幅広い年齢層の子供たちが勉強しています。

そして約３割の子供たちがこの施設で生活をしています。

盲学校で、ましてやスペイン語もままならないのに、どうやって子供たちとコミュニケーションをとればいいか最初はとても不安でした。

しかし彼等は私を温かく迎え入れてくれ、日本にとても興味を示してくれました。

子供たちは目が見えませんが、私が「hola(こんにちは)」と挨拶をすると、いつも「hola,ANAN」と言って私のところまで駆け寄ってきてくれます。声で相手を判別し、声のする方角で相手がどこにいるのか、子供たちはわかっているのです。

音楽の先生も目が不自由な方なのですが、彼は一回音楽を聴いただけで弾けてしまうという素晴らしい耳を持っています。

ボリビアの学校は、日本の学校のようにピアノやその他の楽器が満足に設備されていません。

その現状にも驚き、日本はなんて勉強する環境に恵まれている国なのか、そして私たちはその環境を当たり前だと思ってしまっているということを改めて実感しました。

もう時期コチャバンバで行われる記念祭の為に、先週末、スタジオで子供たちの歌が録音され、私もそれに同行しました。

歌っているときの彼等はとても生き生きとしていて、心から素直に音楽を楽しんでいる様子が伺えました。彼らにとっては音が生きる手段であり、音楽は外部から入ってくる唯一の娯楽でもあるのです。

私は彼らの歌にとても感動し、言葉にできないものを感じました。

音楽に国境はない、そう感じた瞬間でもありました。

私は子供たちとスペイン語で思うように会話ができませんが、音楽を言語として彼等と会話する術を学びました。

そしていかに今までの自分の視野が狭かったのか、ということを強く実感しました。

子供たちと過ごせる期間は残り少ないですが、彼等からたくさんのことを学び、吸収して帰国したいと思っています。

この体験は私の視野を180度変える良い機会になりました。

たくさんのサポートをしてくださっているスタッフの方にも感謝しています。

July is full of celebrations all over the country, not only in Guadalajara and its surroundings.

In the Southern sate of  Guerrero, there is an amazing festival. The city…Taxco dresses up in gallantry and receives the most important guitar players from all over the world, this festival runs from the 10th to the 15th of July.

Taxco is the top 1 silver producer in the whole country and holds a great charm, history and mystery. So why not go there, enjoy of the city and a great music festival?

Enjoy!