Swiss Foundation Donates 54 Musical Instruments to the Ministry of Culture

Swiss Foundation Donates 54 Musical Instruments to the Ministry of Culture
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 10/26/2012

The Swiss Overseas Music Foundation signed an agreement with the Dominican Ministry of Culture to donate 54 musical instruments, including woodwinds and string and percussion instruments, to the National System of Public Schools.

The Culture Minister, José Antonio Rodríguez, signed the accord for the Dominican government while the foundation’s president, Cornelia Diethelm, represented the Swiss entity.

The Culture Minister, José Antonio Rodríguez, signed the accord for the Dominican government while the foundation’s president, Cornelia Diethelm, represented the Swiss entity.

Also seated in the dignitaries’ table were the master of ceremonies, the honorable Line BertheleonPernet, Ambassador of Switzerland; Mirtha Olivares, Coordinator of the Vice Ministry for Creativity and Participation; the Swiss business attaché, Hans-Jurg Tanner; and  ÁngelMejía, Director of the National System of Public Schools.

Singer-songwriter José Antonio Rodríguez thanked the Swiss government for its support and spoke of the unique capacity of music to bring children and youth together and put a smile on their faces. He also recognized the enthusiastic support of Cornelia Diethelm in bringing the project to fruition.

Among the donated instruments are trumpets, cornets, French horns, flugelhorns, alto and tenor saxophones, bassoons, soprano flutes, an accordion, electric pianos, guitars, and two drum sets. It was the sixth donation by the foundation totaling 400 instruments for the public school system to date.

There were also extensive congratulations for the Swiss Ambassador who honored the Dominican Minister with a visit to his offices. He promised to show her the results of the donation in a few months with a musical program.

He also announced that in May of next year the Symphony Orchestra of Disabled Children and Youth will put on a concert, “all of which is motivated by you,” said the Minister.

During the ceremony a video was shown portraying the joint work of the foundation and the National System of Public Schools led by Ángel Mejía.

The Swiss ambassador noted that even though she has only been in the country a few months, she was happy to be of service to the country’s future generations through the delivery of the musical instruments.

“If children learn to play music, they will be happy.  I wish all the teachers and music instructors great success, and I urge them to continue to keep up the good work with the Ministry of Culture and the National System of Public Schools,” she said.

Mirtha Olivares and Cornelia Diethelm also spoke at the signing and reiterated their commitment to foment music education as a form of integral childhood development.

Also in attendance at the signing of the accord were: Maestro Dante Cucurullo, Director of the Juan Pablo Duarte Symphony Orchestra; Santi Rodríguez, Director of the Ciado Regional Philharmonic; Carlos Padilla, director of the Villa Trina (Moca) Public School Band; Marco Gipponi, director of the La Vega Public School Band; Jesús Pérez, Director of the Los Alcarrizos Public School Band, as well as other music directors.

Main table, signing the Agreement: ÁngelMejía, Line BertheleonPernet, Minister Jose Antonio Rodríguez, Cornelio Diethelm, Mirtha Olivares and Hans-Jurg Tanner

Attendees at the ceremony

Cornelia Diethelm presents an instrument to Minister José Antonio Rodríguez