Esperanza Azteca National Youth Orchestra Makes Debut in Mexico City's 10,000-Seat Auditorio Nacional

MEXICO CITY, Nov. 23, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Salinas, a group of dynamic, fast-growing and technologically advanced companies deeply committed to the modernization of the countries in which they operate - founded by Ricardo Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com) - is proud to announce the successful inaugural concert of the national Esperanza Azteca youth orchestra, which made its debut in Mexico City's 10,000-seat Auditorio National with an audience that included Mexico's First Lady Martha Zavala, Mexican Education Minister Alonso Lujambio, Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard, 12 state governors, two governors elect, parents, teachers and more.

The 373-member orchestra and choir gave a multiple standing ovation performance that featured 6-year-old trumpet prodigy Moises Adolfo Tlaxcaltecatl Flores, who performed Richard Meyer's Terranova. Other pieces performed in the concert were Marc-Antoine Charpentier's Te Deum Prelude, Verdi's Va Pensiero, a medley of Mexican music, Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, extracts from Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Arturo Marquez's Danzon 2 and Pablo Moncayo's Huapango, as well as an encore performance of Carl Orff's O Fortuna, from Carmina Burana.

"Bravo to Mexico for giving birth to such glorious youth," said Jose Antonio Abreu, who founded the National Musical System of Venezuela 35 years ago. The system served as a social and musical development model for the Programa Musical Esperanza Azteca (PROMESA).

Abreu later presented a Founders' Medal to Grupo Salinas founder and Chairman Ricardo Salinas.

"Together we can achieve many things," said Mr. Salinas. "What we see here is teamwork, discipline and effort. If all Mexicans could work this way together, without distinctions, we would have a very different country going forward."

The program is designed to create better citizens through music, and currently includes over 5,000 children, who make up 23 orchestras throughout the country that include Esperanza Azteca, as well as the Mexican government's Vive con Musica program through its CONACULTA art and culture council.

Benjamin Zander, music director of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, was also a guest of honor during the event and spoke after the concert about how he was inspired by Esperanza Azteca Director Julio Zaldana and a youth orchestra he heard training in the state of Puebla that served as an inspiration for Esperanza Azteca.  

About Grupo Salinas

Grupo Salinas (www.gruposalinas.com) is a group of dynamic, fast growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating shareholder value, and improving society through excellence. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies. These companies include: TV Azteca (www.tvazteca.com.mx; irtvazteca.com), Azteca America (www.aztecaamerica.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx) and Grupo Iusacell (www.iusacell.com). Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings.

About Fundacion Azteca

Fundacion Azteca is the Grupo Salinas organization that promotes corporate social responsibility both within the group as well as throughout Mexican society as a whole, by linking social needs with organizations and people willing to commit themselves socially and ecologically in the creation of solutions. The foundation also operates in Peru and Guatemala, as well as in United States through Fundacion Azteca America. For more information visit our web page at: www.fundacionazteca.org.

International Press Contact: Daniel McCosh; (5255) 1720-0059; [email protected]

SOURCE Grupo Salinas; Fundacion Azteca; Esperanza Azteca; Ricardo Salinas