Knocking on doors to open futures

Heather Ainsley
ECB Publishing, Inc.

On Sunday, July 2, members of the Monticello community gathered in the beautiful Girardeau Villa Porto grounds to enjoy an evening of elegant classical performance. The performance was given by four music students who have come from Colombia to participate in a two-week long musical summer camp here in Florida. The summer camp is sponsored by a foundation based out of Colombia and formerly out of Richmond, Va., Foundacion Tocando Puertas Para Abrir Futuros, which translates to the Knocking on Doors to Open Futures Foundation. The foundation was founded 15 years ago by the owners of the Girardeau House, Evelia Porto and Richard Hoskins, who strive to provide these opportunities for low-income, musically-inclined youth in Colombia. Musical summer camps are provided through Florida State University (FSU), located in nearby Tallahassee.
“I just want to say how lucky we are to be here,” says Porto during the introduction, “so close to FSU, which has one of the best musical summer camps in Florida!” She continued to describe how Alexander Jimenez, who serves as the Professor of Conducting, Director of Orchestral Activities and String Area Coordinator at the FSU College of Music, provided her with scholarship contacts that she was then able to use to connect each of the students with scholarship opportunities. While it wasn't easy, with setbacks caused by the pandemic for the last few years, this year showed great success, with not one, but three students receiving scholarships to attend summer camp after auditioning.
Lucas Caly played the cello, Cesar Martinez performed on violin and Estephanie Perez played viola. Perez was chosen this year to perform as a soloist while in the camp, exemplifying her graceful skill with the instrument. Accompanying the trio of scholarship winners was Sebastian Rincon, who stepped in to assist them with the summer concert that evening. Rincon is a former musical student who attended the summer camp on scholarship previously.
Over the years, the foundation has enabled over 70 music students to participate in these musical camps, earning them valuable connections in the classical music world, and showcasing their incredible skill and dedication to their craft. The foundation raises money to provide plane tickets, transportation and lodging as well, enabling these students to enjoy the opportunity of a lifetime.
“This is a dream come true,” says Porto, “These kids, the three you're going to see, were seniors in high school just last year. Instead of one week, the conductor of symphonies at FSU, Alex Jimenez, generously arranged the scholarships for two weeks, room and board, everything! The music store (Playground Music Center in Tallahassee, owned by Kurt Fritsch) even provided us with a cello, since cellos need their own seats on a plane.” She expressed her gratitude toward everyone who make the scholarships possible for the kids.
“It has been a fantastic two weeks for these kids,” she exclaimed. “They don't know any English, and it doesn't matter! Music doesn't have a language, it is a language! They have had a good time.”
And, without any further ado, the kids stepped out, settled into their positions on their porch stage, and began to play. Their first song was a piece by Joseph Bologne called Anonymous Lover. As the lilting melody rose up into the warm evening air, it mingled with the singing of the cicadas high up in the trees, and it became very obvious that these students had both passion and skill.
Through the performance, the four played delicate, light melodies that transitioned into sharp, strong notes, and each song that followed was delightful and enchanting. As the sun slowly sank behind the horizon, the four talented kids performed a traditional South American song from Argentina called Tango, a 19th century Italian song called O Sole Mio, an academic song full of energy, Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, a traditional Colombian song, Prende la Vela, and a Colombian song that serves as the foundation's anthem, Our Beloved Land. The students performed beautifully, and guests enjoyed wine as they swayed and tapped to the music.
A brief intermission allowed the hosts to pass out small bags of popcorn which, Porto confessed, served an ulterior motive. After consuming all of the popcorn within, guests were encouraged to leave a small donation inside their bag, which would then be discreetly collected at the end of the performance.
The money, Porto revealed, was to help each of the students enjoy some tourist delights during the final days of their stay. As the kids' flight came in through Orlando, the foundation was raising money to allow the kids a chance to go to one of the many iconic amusement parks before returning home.
After the intermission, the students gathered once again to perform the final performance, a medley of classic American songs, complete with small American flags given to each of the guests. As guests waved their flags to the tunes of “Yankee Doodle” and other catchy favorites. The Colombian students prepared the medley in recognition of America's birthday, the 4th of July, to show their appreciation of our country and the hospitality and friendships they have found here. It was a festive and thoughtful end to an incredible performance.
The generous donations received during and after the concert brought them to their goal, and the kids were able to visit Universal Studios, where they enjoyed a well-earned day of fun before their return home!