I had the privilege of travelling to Holguin, Cuba back in May for the 32nd Romerias de Mayo Festival – which is basically a giant street party! I got to perform there with fellow students from the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), and we were part of the festival parade. Walking through the streets of Holguin, people were generally very excited to see and talk to us.
It was great to meet and play with music students from Cuba during the festival. The singers didn’t even need microphones! They were only in high school and already so talented. From this cultural exchange, I took away that people in Cuba are dedicated and resilient, make the most of what they have, and have such a willingness to learn that I have never seen before. You don’t need crazy equipment to put on a good show. But you do need to share a message with your audience; good artists talk to people; this was a lesson I learned from Jeff Goodspeed throughout this trip! Jeff directed the NSCC Latin band, called “Groovera,” which I performed with at the festival, and he is also Artistic Director of Los Primos, which is the non-profit organization that administered our trip through their youth exchange program (among the other amazing things they do)!
Groovera performed a show at a library in Holguin; a time I will never forget! The energy of the audience and performers was so warm, it felt like Gloria Estefan was there, singing “Nuevo Dia” with me. We were dressed in red and white since it was the Canada-themed day of the festival. An elder man from the audience approached me after the show, and told me that he spent time living in Canada years before moving back to Cuba. He was clearly very excited to talk to Canadians, so I gave him my red and white sequinned hat. He gave me a huge hug and introduced me to his wife. They were so kind and made me feel very welcome in a place so far from home. This part of the cultural exchange – all the love and gratitude for one another – I must say, had me tearing up a little bit! I told the man that I’d been loving it there and that I couldn’t wait to go back. And it’s true – I do hope to make it a place that I visit more than once. We will see. 🙂
We ended our trip with a finale of a show – at the Romerias de Mayo Concierto Canadá at Eddy Suñol theatre, to see the Nova Scotia Youth Jazz Orchestra, Havanafax, and the Holguin Symphony featuring Augusto Enriquez. It would not have been a full-fledged Cuban experience without witnessing the world-class talents of Jeff Goodspeed and Augusto Enriquez doing what they do best! I admire Jeff’s expressive saxophone skills, and loved watching his solos! It made me curious as to what it is that makes an artist so articulate with their instrument. (I have since signed up for lessons with Jeff, so hopefully I will find out 🙂 ). As for Augusto – I have him to thank the most for my progress this year. His teaching has helped me become a better performer, and to understand the value of classical vocal technique, even (and “especially”) in modern music. With regards to both Jeff and Augusto, watching them engage an entire theatre audience with ease and grace was a testament to both their characters as artists and teachers. They both received special acknowledgements that evening for their support and dedication to Cuban culture and music – very well-deserved!
Being in Cuba only one week had already taught me much about Cuba’s unique and complicated history as a nation, and on a global scale. It did not take long to see that many communities there are experiencing varying degrees of poverty. The nation has unfortunately suffered, like many have, since Covid due to its impact on tourism – which is a huge part of Cuba’s economy. Global history and politics have also played a role in the lack of access to essential resources and commodities in many areas of the country, namely those in rural areas, outside of popular tourist destinations. It was enlightening to have Timothy Bood from NSCuba on the trip to discuss things that many everyday people are not aware of or refuse to acknowledge. These include events that have occurred over the last century, such as attempted invasions (Bay of Pigs, etc.), and economic sanctions (i.e. the U.S. embargo against Cuba which contributed to squeezing them out of trade and collaboration with much of the modern world). Cuba still experiences various hardships resulting from all this, yet the nation continues to fight to maintain their independence, to develop themselves and to protect their resources from exploitation. Thus, it is important to recognize the vital partnership and connection between Canada and Cuba, and other nations who strive to uphold national independence and cooperative collaboration in global affairs. The wellbeing of ALL stems from this.
In Cuba, I was reminded of the value in community and of the importance of generosity. I also gained international experience as a musician and developed new and growing connections within the industry. All in all, as a person and professional I’ve been seeing a more clearly painted picture of this world. I believe it’s crucial for those of us who are privileged to have a voice and communication channels to use them to engage with our greater global community. This enables others to share their stories so that we all gain awareness and support where it is needed.
Moral of the story = art is for everyone, and it brings us together. So make lots of art, and share it far and wide!
A special thank you goes to Mike (to the left in the photo above) – who was our guide for most of the week while touring through Holguin. Mike helped us answer any questions we had, ensured we knew where to access amenities, and rounded us up to make sure everyone got to where they needed to go. Mike also shares a passion for music, and I had so much fun chatting about this!
Another shoutout – We stayed at Sol Rio de Luna y Mares – a beautiful resort as pictured above. One of the entertainment staff there, “Eli,” was particularly kind and friendly to me. If you go there before my next visit, tell her I say hi!!!