People aged 12 to 30 can participate, and no musical experience is necessary
The Ramacrisna Institute opens new opportunities for those who wish to enter the world of music. On March 19, the Ramacrisna Philharmonic Orchestra will hold auditions to select new members. Teenagers and young people between the ages of 12 and 30 may take part in the selection process, which will take place at the institution’s headquarters.
The auditions will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis, in two time slots: from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The process was designed to welcome both those who already have some contact with musical instruments or music theory and beginners who want to take their first steps in the musical universe.
During the auditions, participants will take part in a simple evaluative activity aimed at identifying musical intelligence, including listening perception, basic movements related to auditory response, and coordination assessment. The goal is not to test advanced technical knowledge, but rather to identify musical aptitude and potential for development.
According to the Orchestra’s coordinator, Luciana Leite, the initiative aims to expand access to musical education and discover new talents. “No previous experience is required to participate. The most important thing is musical sensitivity, a willingness to learn, and an interest in music. The orchestra brings together young people of different ages and levels of knowledge, creating a very rich collective learning environment,” she says.
She also emphasizes that participants will have the opportunity to learn in a qualified musical training environment. “Students will have classes with experienced teachers and will be part of an orchestra conducted by Maestro Eliseu Barros, a reference in the field. Over time, they will also be able to participate in performances and concerts, experiencing in practice what it means to play in a group and further developing their talent,” she adds.
Approved candidates will participate in orchestra activities with a workload of up to 16 hours per week, distributed over four rehearsal days per week, with up to four hours per day.
In addition to musical training, members will have access to several benefits, such as free lessons with specialized teachers, participation in concerts, performances, and educational activities focused on artistic development and preparation for professional careers. Young people between 14 and 22 years old may also have the possibility of being hired as apprentices, depending on the availability of positions. Participants will also receive lunch and snacks provided by the institution.
Instruments with available audition spots
Auditions for the Ramacrisna Philharmonic Orchestra
Date: March 19
Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (first-come, first-served basis)
Age: 12 to 30 years old
Location: Ramacrisna Institute (Rua Mestre Ramacrisna, 379, Santo Afonso – Betim – MG, Brazil)
About the Ramacrisna Philharmonic Orchestra
Created in 2005, the Ramacrisna Philharmonic Orchestra was founded with the purpose of bringing classical and instrumental music to children and young people in situations of social vulnerability in the Vianópolis community, in Betim. Today, the group is composed of 50 young musicians and has performed in some of the main cultural venues in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, such as CCBB, Teatro Bradesco, Cine Theatro Brasil, Palácio das Artes, and the PUC Minas Natural Sciences Museum.
In 2024, the orchestra experienced a historic moment when it performed alongside Seu Jorge in a charity concert celebrating the 65th anniversary of the Ramacrisna Institute at Cine Theatro Brasil. The event brought together around one thousand people and reaffirmed the power of music as a tool for transformation and social inclusion.
Throughout its trajectory, the orchestra has shared the stage with renowned national and international artists such as Céu, Fernanda Takai, Lô Borges, Toninho Horta, Beto Guedes, Flávio Venturini, Mônica Salmaso, Joyce Moreno, as well as the Italian tenors Claudio Mattioli and Massimiliano Barbolini, the lyric tenor Felipe Peletta, and the American violinist Elizabeth Fayette.
