Developing a relationship with Latin America was a wish and one of the goals of the Musical Bridges Strategic Plan.  For many years I have been a great admirer of Latin music with its sophisticated rhythms and irresistible melodies. This music makes you dance no matter what your state of mind at the moment.

Coming from Russia with a classical music academic background, I wasn't familiar with the Puerto Rican culture, but in order to secure the highest quality of the performance, I needed to learn the culture and its historical and musical roots. Dr. Awilda Ramos--MBAW Board President and originally from Puerto Rico--flew with me to her native country in search of knowledge and musicians for the next MBAW season.

The trip was absolutely fascinating!!! What a rich culture!!! Such a small green island and it contributed Salsa to the world. And if that's not enough: La Plena, La Danza.

It turns out that Puerto Rican music reflects its history and influences of Spanish, African and Indian cultures. The typical instrumentation for a Puerto Rican folk ensemble is: cuatro, guitar, bongo (one or more) and guido (a percussion instrument made out of dried fruit and played with a metal brush). The cuatro is Puerto Rico's own version of the guitar and is everywhere, while the original guitar comes from Spain, guido from the native Puerto Rican Indians and bongo from Africa.

I was fascinated by how much music can be heard in every town, by the pride people take in their beautiful culture, and by the system of free music schools for children everywhere. We auditioned children in a couple of the schools. You cannot believe how much talent we saw: a 5-year-old troubadour (singer-improviser), a 7-year-old Salsa dancing couple, a phenomenal 9-year-old marimba player, and a 17-year-old Puerto Rican National Competition-winning cuatrist. These kids come from the small town of Cayey.

I loved the country, the people, the food, the rum, endless Pina Coladas and, of course, the ocean everywhere. In the back country, you can just raise your hand and pick great mangos, coconuts, bananas, and many other varieties, at any time. Imagine waking up to a beautiful sunny morning, taking a deep breath of the fresh air, reaching up to get the fruit of your choice from the closest tree, and then going to the beach for the rest of the day. What a life!!!!

And oh yes, I forgot to mention as the result of this trip we are producing an absolutely amazing Puerto Rican folk concert set for the opening of our 13th season on October 3. Edwin Colon Zayas—the best Puerto Rican cuatro player and a National Endowment for the Arts award winner with his group, Taller Campesino—and those six fantastic kids from the Cayey School of Belles Artes are the stars. Everyone in the small town of Cayey are so supportive of these children and their musical journey to San Antonio. We are pleased to partner with Estudio Cuatro in this one of a kind program.

I want to sincerely thank Board President Dr. Awilda Ramos and her Puerto Rican family for making my trip one of the most memorable adventures of my life. I fell in love with this beautiful, tasty, sunny, hospitable, and very musical island.