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- EIN 52-1710981
- 1629 K St Nw Ste 300 Washington DC 20006-1631 USA
- http://www.panamsymphony.org
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Arts & Culture, Cultural & Ethnic Awareness, Music, Symphony Orchestras
Mission: PASO is a community orchestra founded in 1991 to promote the performance of orchestral compositions by Latin American composers and to make these performances accessible to the public at minimal ticket prices. In residence at Trinity College in northeast Washington, DC, PASO provides qualified musicians in the area opportunities to perform these seldom-played works, in addition to standard orchestral repertoire. Through showcase concerts each season, PASO creates opportunities for gifted Latin American musicians to perform as soloists with a symphonic ensemble. By highlighting Latin American orchestral music along with European compositions, PASO encourages awareness of, understanding of, and respect for Latin American cultures.
Programs: The 55-member orchestra presents approximately 6 concerts a year. The annual concert series is educational in nature, providing the community with music seldom performed by area orchestras. For example, last season, PASO performed Manuel de Fallas' flamenco opera, LA VIDA BREVE, and premiered a work by the young female Honduran composer, Jimena Andonie. This year, the talented young Mexican composer, Jose Elizondo, composed a piece dedicated to PASO that was performed at the Mexican Cultural Institute on February 26, 2000. Every year, PASO brings an array of talented dancers, vocalists, and soloists of Latin American origin to the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University or to the Organization of American States' Hall of the Americas, or to Notre Dame Chapel at Trinity College. PASO's detailed and informative concert program booklets and Maestro Buslje's instructional chats before many concerts teach the audience about various aspects of Hispanic culture, such as the influences of native peoples and of European settlers. Moreover, PASO sponsors recitals by Latin American and North American artists and hosts visiting Latin American orchestras in concerts that are free to the public at Trinity College's elegant art gallery or social hall. In addition, PASO musicians have formed an 8-piece tango ensemble, and a 17-piece big band that performs primarily works by Duke Ellington.