Social Organization already has 11 students in state and federal colleges
A music project based on the outskirts of the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region has expanded young people’s access to higher education in music. Over the past three years, 11 members of the Ramacrisna Philharmonic Orchestra, from the Ramacrisna Institute in Betim, have enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at public institutions such as the State University of Minas Gerais (UEMG) and the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG).
The training offered by the orchestra combines technical instrumental instruction with collective practice, in addition to providing professional experience through participation in various concerts, where they have had the opportunity to share the stage with renowned artists such as Lô Borges, Seu Jorge, among other big names in Brazilian music. In a country where access to music education is still marked by inequalities, the result is noteworthy for the number of students who have been accepted.
For the vice president of the Ramacrisna Institute, Solange Bottaro, this connection between artistic practice and educational success is the result of structured and continuous work. “The work in the Orchestra goes beyond learning the instrument. It develops discipline, responsibility, teamwork, and self-confidence, which are fundamental skills for university and professional life,” she says.
Among the young people who are experiencing this reality today are Juan Santana and Gabriela Lopes, students of the orchestra who are currently studying music at UFMG and UEMG, respectively. Juan plays the bassoon, an instrument that won him over and led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in music with a specialization in bassoon. For him, the selection process required intense dedication, but his experience in the Orchestra was a decisive factor. According to the young man, his experience in the orchestra was decisive for his acceptance. “The Orchestra gave me technical foundation, discipline, and, above all, real stage experience. When I went to take the university entrance exam, I already had repertoire, group practice, and musical maturity. That made all the difference in the selection process,” he says.
Today, at university, Juan recognizes how fundamental his experience in the social project was. “If I hadn’t found the Orchestra that day, I might not have discovered that I could turn music into a profession,” he says.
Gabriela is a violinist and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in music with a major in violin. Her trajectory, however, was not linear. At one point, she even interrupted her studies, but decided to resume them when she recognized that music was, in fact, her purpose. “There was a period when I thought about giving up, I thought that maybe I couldn’t handle it. But I realized that music had always been at the center of my life. Going back to college was reaffirming who I am and what I want to build as a professional,” she says.
According to Gabriella, the foundation she built in the Orchestra was decisive both for her admission and for her continued enrollment at the university. “The Orchestra prepared me not only technically for the exam, but mainly emotionally. When I arrived at college, I was already used to the routine of rehearsals, discipline, and high expectations. That made all the difference,” she says.
For students, entering higher education in music represents more than an individual achievement; it is also a reflection of the social impact of the project. “Projects like the Ramacrisna Orchestra change destinies,” Gabriella summarizes. “They show us that it is possible to dream big, even when the path seems difficult,” she concludes.
