The Ministry of Culture and Sports published the names of the artists selected for the Eastern Regional Symphony. According to the information, 29 musicians were chosen to make up the country’s third symphony orchestra.
After the success of the creation of the Western Regional Symphony Orchestra (OSROCC) in 2024, the Ministry of Culture and Sports, through its Vice Ministry of Culture, undertook a new challenge: the creation of the Eastern Regional Symphony Orchestra. These would be the first two orchestras created after 80 years in which only the National Symphony of Guatemala existed.
Through a series of auditions held on April 10, 11 and 12 in the Departmental Government of Chiquimula, a jury of experts heard 138 candidates to join what will be the third symphony orchestra in the country.
The two regional symphony orchestras were created by ministerial agreements issued by the Ministry of Culture and Sports, which gives them institutional support to exist and be sustainable.
This announcement comes after the new minister took office, Luis Mendez Salinaswho will be in the position for about 20 months, following the departure of Liwi Grazioso, who recently resigned.
This has generated job opportunities for many musicians who previously did not see it possible to dedicate themselves professionally to music. Until now, in the province there were only youth or training orchestras, where musicians participate as part of their learning. This is the first professional orchestra in the province where musicians receive fees for their artistic work.
The list of members of the Eastern Regional Symphony Orchestra is as follows:
Violins
Lucía Verónica Ávila García (principal)
José David Rosal Ordóñez
Iris Jeaneth Loarca Hernández
Nehemiah Jehu Salguero Alonzo
Adbel Eraldo Aguilar Ávila
Melky Luis Antonio Oliveros Ortiz
Fernando Francisco Villagran Juarez
Violas
Derek Juan Francisco López Rivera (principal)
Miriam Vicenta Sarat Itzep
Astrid Dione Bonilla Montenegro
Aziel Isaí Suruy Echeverría
Cellos
Ana Elisa Galdámez Castillo (principal)
María Libertad Sáenz de Tejada Salazar
Fernando José León Álvarez
Ana Belén López Aguilar
Flute
Roger René Martínez Uriarte (principal)
Alex Fernando Pacache Tajín
Piccolo
Aliosha Donato Agustín Ramírez
Oboe
Lucas David Pirir Iquite (tutti)
Elliott Joao Morales Private (tutti)
Clarinet
Juan Andrés Méndez (principal)
Ramiro Julio Antonio Acqui Batzín
Bassoon
Karla Vanessa Alexandra Mieschel Paxtor
French horn
Verner Jovan Amiel Contreras
Trumpet
Dany Francisco Mynor Tziquin Guarchaj (main)
Randy Leonel Polanco García
tenor trombone
Nurvan Leonel Yapan Gómez (main)
Sergio Alejandro Pontius Sum
Tuba
Demnis Hernán Marroquín Marroquín (main)