Music is a powerful way to connect with other people. Whether you're listening or creating, you can strengthen your bonds with friends, family, and even strangers through it.
- In the 2024 Season We want to foster connections between people, their way of seeing life and feeling music. That's why we wanted to make a different bet where we don't just program for people but with people.
- Let's connect with each other! A season where people will have an impact on the creation and planning of concerts.
- Each concert is designed under the logic of forming and nurturing relationships with diverse social communities. In connection with the community of musicians, the Saturdays February 17 and 24 We will begin our Season with an exciting repertoire to the rhythm of Latin American and universal music. The first two concerts are presented to discover the way of seeing the life of the musicians: their passions, their creativity, their connection with the world.
“In a hyperconnected world, we have never been so disconnected before. We live in a divided world (and city) where algorithms and conversations exacerbate differences. We live in a world of shores where, despite inhabiting the same territory, we do not necessarily meet.” María Catalina Prieto, executive director
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2023, we celebrate 40 years for the entire city
“Gratitude” is the word that can describe the celebration of the 40 years in 2023, this year there was a program of unforgettable concerts that included those performed in the theater, such as Get up and dance! In which for the first time the musicians played from memory and danced a piece by Beethoven, and the Philharmonic Serenades that were presented in iconic places in Medellín, such as in Parque Bolívar, which recalled the Sundays of retreat, and in Parques del Río, with an exciting program of open-air soundtracks.
We took the orchestra to many communes in the city, churches were one of the most important stages to bring music to all the neighborhoods of Medellin. Boston, Calasanz, Manrique, Guayabal, among other places, welcomed us with love and curiosity to meet an orchestra for the first time.
In addition, social programs were strengthened, which go beyond the score. Soy Músico, made up of young people and adults with disabilities and/or neurodiverse people, joined our orchestra in concert to perform Latin American and Caribbean music during a year of creative work, and additionally reached more people with workshops specifically aimed at people with hearing disabilities, generating spaces for contact, expression and enjoyment of music through vibrations, touch, and vision. For its part, the Reconciliation Choir, made up of victims of the Colombian armed conflict, reincorporated victims and signatories of the peace agreement, performed different concerts and workshops, highlighting peace scenarios such as the International Summit on Non-Violence in the municipality of Caicedo and “Singing to Heal,” a series of concerts where we shared with other choral groups. Also, with city interventions, choral workshops were held inviting people from the community to sing and build social bridges.
Additionally, workshops were held for people with dementia, seeking to strengthen family ties through music and promote spaces of enjoyment for participants.
“It was a year in which the purpose of our orchestra resonated: to listen to the city, to take risks, to merge and to believe in the power of music. From Castilla to San Pedro de los Milagros, from the Teatro Metropolitano to Parque Bolívar.” David Greilsammer, Principal Conductor
1´008.306
People touched by music
56.495
People who saw the orchestra in concerts and other in-person activities
145
In-person concerts
200
Open trials
2024, to connect and meet
We have considered ten population groups that are relevant to Medellín today and that make this city unique in 2024. These groups include street artists, athletes, senior citizens, ex-combatants, peace signatories, victims of the armed conflict, the disabled population, children, youth, musicians and expatriates.
We will work monthly with a group to discover their expectations, the way they feel about music and their connection with the orchestra, and thus define production elements of a concert such as the stage design, the content, the program, the pre-show talk and other activities that revolve around the orchestra's circulation.
“We are an orchestra that is relevant to the communities; this year we wanted to get involved with the people of Medellín and its spaces to look at the world of the orchestra in a different way…the population will accompany us in the curation of our activities, thus we will help change the idea that a symphony orchestra is exclusive to certain sectors of the population.” María Catalina Prieto, executive director
A symphonic season that connects communities and music stars
“This season we will present to the public extraordinary masterpieces from all periods of music, from the Baroque to our contemporary times…we will perform some of my favorite symphonic works, such as Rachmaninov’s passionate Second Symphony, Schumann’s moving Third Symphony or Sibelius’ explosive Second Symphony. And I am thrilled because this season we welcome several extraordinary international soloists and conductors who are huge stars in the world!” David Greilsammer, Principal Conductor
From the hand of the public and our principal conductor David Greilsammer We will have our traditional symphonic season that begins on February 17th which will include in its program Latin American music by Colombian Wolfgang Ordóñez, and universal music by Brahms and Rachmaninov with the participation of the American violinist Philippe Quint; then the February 24th, the second concert will be of united orchestras with the participation of the EAFIT Symphony with an exciting program that includes music by Díaz Villegas, Mahler and Schubert.
For him April 6th, we will present in the company of the cello rockstar Santiago Canyon-Valencia a concert featuring music by Laló, Haydn and Dvořák. That same month the principal trombonist of our orchestra Vladimir Hurtado He will participate as a soloist in the interpretation of the Trombone Concerto by Colombian Jorge Pinzón, and music by the romantics Frank and Wagner will also be heard.
In May, performs for the first time with our orchestra, Paolo Bortolameolli Considered one of the most relevant Latin conductors in the world today and for whom music has the power to transform communities, he is preparing to conduct Mahler's energetic Sixth Symphony. For the month of June, will make his concert debut as associate director of Filarmed, the maestro Manuel López-Gómez, who will work hand in hand with conductor David Greilsammer in the artistic projection of the orchestra.
In August We prepare to sing with the Colombian Julieth Lozano, recognized as “The best voice in the world 2023”, by BBC Cardiff Singer of The World in London; together with the soprano we will present a lyrical and symphonic gala. In addition, he will participate as a guest concertmaster Eddie Cordero, chief second violinist of the National Symphony of Colombia.
That same month the violinist appears William Chiquito as a soloist in Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1, which will also include a performance of Sibelius' Symphony No. 2. Chiquito has been guest concertmaster with various orchestras in Italy since 2018, and in 2021 he won the international competition as principal concertmaster of the Tuscany orchestra.
In September The American John Axelrod Axelrod will conduct our orchestra for the first time with a diverse programme of contemporary and classical music from all over the world, including Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony “Pathetique”, considered one of the composer’s most passionate works. Axelrod was recently appointed Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Swiss National Orchestra.
He October 26th We present Get up and dance! A programme in which the orchestra plays from memory and dances, a concert in movement, this time, to the rhythm of Schumann's Symphony No. 2.
In November the trumpet players of our orchestra Frank Londono and Ramon Paniagua will come together on the same stage to perform the Concerto for Two Trumpets by Dominican Fredy Marius Mejía. That same afternoon, Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 3 will be performed with David Greilsammer as soloist, as well as Schumann's moving Symphony No. 3.
For him last concert of the season We join the Colombian Youth Philharmonic Orchestra which, in addition to strengthening the value of cooperation, highlights the young talent and spirit of unity that represent the country's musical community. Under the direction of David Greilsammer, we will present music filled with inspiration from composers Ravel, Scriabin and Bartók.
Botero's Ten
“It is difficult to imagine Medellín without his iconic sculptures, without the cat, the reclining woman, the Man on Horseback, the Gladiator or the Fat Woman. His works are a reflection of the history of our city and all its transitions… through music we want to give a new meaning to the cultural legacy of the maestro in Medellín.” María Catalina Prieto, executive director
This year we will present a series of concerts that will pay tribute to the life and work of the maestro. Fernando Botero, who also left his mark on classical music.
In 2001, maestro Fernando Botero made a generous gift to the children of Medellín. In collaboration with the Royal Musical of Spain, he donated 300 musical instruments to contribute to the formation of the network of music schools in Medellín. Many of those children who once had an instrument thanks to Botero have grown up and are now part of great orchestras like ours. For this reason, in our Season, the musicians of the city also express their gratitude to him.
They will be ten concerts as a very significant tribute, with music inspired by the sensitivity, life and work of the Antioquian artist. This series of concerts will be held at the Cloister Comfama Theater Patio.
Filarmed in the communes
Medellín is a city with an active and thriving music scene, it is part of its daily life. Our communities see music as a source of sustainable urban development and progress, as well as a means for social integration and the preservation of cultural diversity.
This city is the home of Filarmed, and together with the communities we will schedule concerts and conversations about music throughout the year in public venues selected by them. Churches, parks and theatres, museums and other spaces will be the meeting point for music and citizens free of charge.
In connection with national talent
This year, in addition to understanding the needs of the territory and working with the population, our orchestra wants to make visible the talent of our musicians, national artists, Latin American composers and orchestras from the region, making Medellín visible as a city where many things happen, a city full of culture in all its expressions; working with other forms of art, organizations at all levels and with orchestras such as the Colombian Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and the EAFIT Symphony.
Throughout the year some Filarmed musicians such as the trombonist Valdimir Hurtado, and the trumpeters Frank Londono and Ramon Paniagua, will join the Season as soloists. On the other hand, the violinists Eddie Cordero and William Chiquito, two outstanding musicians with great international projection who have been part of the musical community of our city, will participate for the first time as guest concertmasters of our orchestra.
The cellist Santiago Canyon-Valencia and the soprano Julieth Lozano, are two Colombian musicians who have been a source of pride in Latin America and who, thanks to their talent, have amazed millions of people around the world. This time they will participate as soloists in two unforgettable concerts of the “Connections” Season 2024.
Of course, we want to project ourselves as the best orchestra in Latin America, not only for our artistic quality but also for the social vocation we have and to be able to guarantee the rights of all the inhabitants of the region, especially those whose rights have been violated.
Do Re Mingo Favorite
Bringing music to children and families is of vital importance in the Orchestra's outreach work. There will be several concerts aimed at children and families, including Do-Re-Mingo Fa-vorito, a Sunday series of educational concerts for the whole family with music from some stories and tales from universal literature to introduce new audiences to symphonic music.
Articulated social programs
The Reconciliation Choir, made up of victims of the Colombian armed conflict, reincorporated victims and signatories of the peace agreement, and Soy Músico, made up of young people and adults with disabilities and/or neurodiverse people, will perform concerts and workshops that reflect on the work carried out throughout the year. Some of these activities will be integrated and will work from the perspective of connections to strengthen the bond with music and the orchestra. In this way, greater interaction will be sought among these vulnerable populations and awareness will be raised about the importance of guaranteeing the cultural rights of all citizens. The activities will circulate in different communes with concerts in different orchestral formats.
In connection with musicians and the way of appreciating life, the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra begins a new season of concerts. Two performances, Saturdays February 17 and 24, introduce the 2024 Season.
The music of Latin American composers Wolfgang Ordoñez and Díaz Villegas, and universal classics by Schubert, Mahler, Brahms and Rachmaninov, in the company of American violinist Philippe Quint, are part of the concert program, conducted by David Greilsammer, which premiere the 2024 “Connections” Season of Filarmed.
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