The Oboe Habana Project is a very recent project that was created in January 2008 for the development of oboe playing in Cuba. This instrument was at risk of dissappearing because of the lack of information and the economic difficulties that Cuba is facing. This was greatly affecting the musical panorama because thet repertoires that could be perfomed there were very limited.
The project has two main areas: teaching and performing. On the performing side of it, since January 2008 the oboist Aimara Magana has been going to Cuba and has already offered more than 6 oboe and piano recitals. These recitals have included on each one at least a first performance of one piece from the standard repertoire for the instrument. Among these pieces are the Dutilleux's Sonata, the Romances by Clara Schumann and Britten's Temporal Variations. Besides this, there have been also performances in which she has participated making it possible for two orchestras in Havana to perform piecs for the first time in many years.
On the teaching side the first action was the first reed-making workshop in July-August 2008 in which the Cuban oboe students learnt how to make their own reeds. After that there has been a steady flow of cane and reed-making materials all from donations made to the project which has permitted the development of teh students. At the moment they play in their own reeds and they are prodicing high quality ones.
The project was approved by the Cuban Ministry of Culture in April 2008 and was linked to the national program for the development of Symphony Orchestras and Wind Bands. It has the support since the beginning of Howarth of London, the British Double Reed Society, Oboe Reeds Direct and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. It would have been impossible to achieve any result without the support from the English side, especially from BDRS members and Howarth of London, who have even donated 6 oboes and one bassoon for Cuban students. The reed-making support in terms of cane has been owed to Oboe Reeds Direct.
This is a very inspiring project which is giving something back to a community of people who care deeply about music. In Cuba classical music is very important for the people and they absolutely love to have the oboe back in the musical spectrum. I feel very proud of having taken part in the 'rescuing' of the oboe in Cuba and will continue working for its development.
If you want to know more about the project you can have a look at the Double Reed News, which is the magazine for the BDRS. It also has a page in Facebook for more information.
