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When
does a technician become an artist? That is the question
at the heart of DISCOVERY, an hour-long documentary that
follows the young musicians of the Youth
Orchestra of the Americas (YOA) throughout a tour
of South America.
In the summer of 2003, 108 of the most gifted young musicians
representing 20 different countries of the American content
convened for a two week rehearsal period on the campus of
Earth University, in the Costa Rican rain forest. These
two weeks were followed by four more weeks of touring through
18 different cities in Central and South America. A grueling
daily rehearsal and tour schedule consisting of late nights,
early mornings, constant travel, and variations in altitude
and climate, took its toll on all. But the passion and enthusiasm
of the musicians never dampened. Moreover, thousands of
people in the far away corners of the hemisphere, who had
never been exposed to classical music, discovered spiritual
heights that transformed their sense of life forever.
Created in 2001, the YOA attempts to bridge cultural gaps
across the Western Hemisphere, and to provide an example
of the excellence that is possible when these cultures are
brought together. The YOA’s mission of excellence
through leadership is exemplified in an engaging and touching
fashion by its young artists. They have left audiences standing
on their feet after every concert, cheering for more while
dancing in the isles.
DISCOVERY is a journey of discovery of music, the self,
each other, and the vast human and cultural diversity that
weave and strengthen the noble spirit of the Americas. It
has been accepted at fifteen film festivals around the globe,
and has been a crowd pleaser for young and old alike, winning
the Orinda
Film Festival’s top prize for best feature
in 2005
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