Violin not violence: Dinorah Marquez

Dinorah Marquez, director of Latino Arts Strings programme was in Hyderabad with her artist husband Raoul Deal. She speaks about the project which started with just 26 students in 2002 at the United Community center in Milwaukee, US and now has close to 200 students.

Says Dinorah, “Our motto is ‘Violins not violence’. Music is one of the comprehensive ways of bringing a change in academic, social and emotional stature in life. The programme is mainly for the children who come to the US from Mexico and the border areas, and have very little opportunities due to their ‘refugee’ status. I distinctly remember about a child who was ‘stolen’ away from his parents, when they were crossing from Mexico to find a home in USA. Finally, the child was rescued and he joined our programme.

“One of our talented students Elizabeth Avalos has also received the Latin Grammy Scholarship. At present, we teach violin, viola, cello, bass and lead guitar. We also have the Latino Youth orchestra and the Latino Arts Mariachi Juvenil which has given live performances, television and radio shows. Children between five to 17 years of age are benefitting from this programme. Meritorious students also get an opportunity to be a part of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Wisconsin School Music Association State Honor Youth Orchestra” concludes Dinorah.