News related to musicians from the region currently fills us with pride. It concerns the participation of musicians from Las Tunas in "Jirafas," an album nominated (in the Best Children's Album category) for a Latin Grammy, the results of which will be announced in October.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- Yunior Larrea, leader of the group Contrapunto; Julio Samuel Segura Ochoa, acting director of the province's chamber and symphony orchestras; and colleagues from the Camerata group, directed by Segura Ochoa, made up the Balcón de Oriente lineup that participated in the album.
The other fellow countrymen, according to Segura (conductor and violinist), are: Angel Ochoa (violin), Dainacet Fernandez Alba (flute), Meidy Aguilera Martin (viola), Luis Ruben Navarro (cello), Yesenia Perdomo (double bass), Amanda de la Caridad González (bassoon), Arianna Pérez Mendoza (clarinet), and Omar Briñones (piano).
This is not the first time that someone from Las Tunas has participated in a Latin Grammy-nominated work. According to Julio Samuel, others have done so before, such as maestro Basilio Márquez (with Irakere) and his mother, the troubadour Guislaine Ochoa González, with an album featuring 100 famous sones from Cuban music. However, it is not something that happens very often, and it also confirms the musical potential of our province.
In conversation with 26, Segura said: "It has been an honor for me and all the musicians involved to achieve this result. It is something very beautiful and significant for our career. Rita Rosa Ruesga (singer and pianist, currently living abroad) and my mother studied at the José White Conservatory in Camagüey, and they have been friends ever since. That's how she found out about our work. So Rita contacted us and asked us to participate in the piece, which is a play with a sung part and an acted part.
"So we decided to do something new and add a chamber format that is, violin, viola, cello, bassoon, clarinet... We also used elements of Cuban music, typical of rhythms such as son and danzón. In general, we broke with certain patterns when it came to composing and making children's music."
The provincial radio station, Radio Victoria, hosted the recording of the project, with lyrics written by Rita and arrangements and production by Yunior Larrea Medina and Jorge Sosa (pianist). Not surprisingly, the musicians are grateful to all those who collaborated on this dream, including the radio station staff. “Just being nominated is already a great prize, a blessing. We are happy,” said Julio Samuel.
For his part, Larrea added, "We are happy with the news. It was unexpected. Although we had been thinking about the project for some time, we were surprised by the result. We wanted to do our bit for children's music, which is new to me. I confess that I have learned a lot in the process; it has been a magnificent challenge. The bassoon, for example, gave the recordings a beautiful color. We feel great joy and gratitude, starting with Rita, who, although she is not in the country, has always defended Cuban music, especially that created for children. Also to Sosa, to Julito's ensemble, to all those who sacrificed themselves for this cause.
Likewise, on her Facebook page, singer-songwriter Rita Rosa Ruesga summed up the feelings of those involved and their commitment to creating for those who know how to love: "Our music for children is born from our dreams, talents, and passions, made with love to share joy with every family and the public in general. This work is full of the effort and talent of musicians living in Cuba, Spain, and the United States." She also announced that on October 12, this production, adapted into a play, can be heard and seen at the Zunzún Festival 2025. Congratulations.
