The Sonríe
music school

Why Cuba needs a school like this

In Cuba only a very few children, strictly selected for talent and persistence, get to study music at the Conservatory. Most never take a single course, and the same is true for older people and people with disabilities, for whom music is a precious resource.

That is why our teachers travel between villages, sometimes on horse-drawn carts, to reach tiny communities where they hold their lessons.

The project has been running since 2013 and was founded by Sister Anna Quinterio, after a stay by the musician Lorenzo Frizzera, who taught several courses in the town and the villages around it. Besides guitar, piano and choral singing, the school runs theatre, dance and craft workshops, and puts on shows and events every year.

One serious problem holding the project back is how extremely hard it is to send musical instruments to Cuba, because of the embargo.

Sister Lavinia, in her own words

Our contacts on the ground are the missionary sisters of Rodas, who look after the running and the logistics of the school.

“I am Sister Lavinia, of the Congregation of Jesus. I am Romanian and I have been on mission in Cuba since 2016.

When I arrived there was a group of children playing guitar in the church at Rodas. In 2016 we moved into a house bought by a Cuban priest, with three rooms, and we started many activities: a guitar workshop for beginners and advanced players, and workshops in theatre, crafts, piano, children's choir and dance. It brought us a great deal of happiness and now we are beginning to see the results.

This past year, besides me, there were five teachers and we had 49 pupils. We are very happy because, despite the difficult years — the pandemic, but also the power cuts, the heat, the mosquitoes and the tropical storms — both pupils and teachers showed keen interest and were very consistent.

I want to thank you all for your support, your prayers and your contributions: together, each with their own gift, you help these children grow up with values, a little happier and a little kinder.”

Sister Lavinia Serban, Rodas

This project is supported by Echoo together with Spagnolli-Bazzoni Onlus, and in particular thanks to Mario Medici. The school house was bought thanks to donations from Mario Medici and Elena Albertini.