LATEST NEWS
 Our team has recently returned from Paraguay after 10 days of filming with members of the organization, 'Sounds of the Earth'. The work of composer Luis Szaran, his team and students inspired us to produce a documentary about how music is used by these individuals to educate and empower the lives of thousands of underprivileged children in Paraguay.
During this first trip we captured their daily struggles as well as some of their achievements. We will be editing a trailer in the upcoming weeks, which will be used to raise funds towards a feature-length documentary.
During our second trip we aim to capture new students from very low income families, and their struggle to become part of the orchestra. We also plan to explore how the orchestra prepares for a concert they have been invited to perform in Europe.
Project Summary
This film will spotlight the positive and empowering effect of music on the lives of underprivileged children in Paraguay, South America.
To the forgotten regions of Paraguay, one man brings hope and inspiration through the transformative power of music.
“Healing Sounds” is the story of one mans struggle to save the poverty stricken children of Paraguay using only the power of song.
After a lifetime spent dedicated to the mastery of classical music, Maestro Luis Szaran dedicates himself once again, this time to bringing the gift of music to children, living in conditions of extreme poverty, most of whom have never heard of Mozart, Vivaldi or even the sound of a cello or violin.
Born into poverty himself, Szaran's formative years mirror the lives of the children he is fighting to help. From an early age he followed his musical muse. As a child he was forced to learn to play the guitar in secret because his father a former musician, did not see a future in the study of music.
From such humble beginnings, Szaran rose to the esteemed position of director of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Asuncion, Paraguay. An accomplished composer, his music has been performed throughout the world and by esteemed Orchestras among them the Symphonic Orchestras of Berlin and Paris.
From the hands of professional virtuosos now passed down to the hands of young hopefuls, Szaran's music is the foundation for his “Sounds of the Earth” program which teaches music to over 3000 youths in over 120 communities throughout Paraguay.
A program which had its ironic beginnings when a humble grandfather, a recycler by trade, unable to afford a violin for his grandson, fashioned one from discarded materials he found in local dump.
The instrument found its way into the hands of Maestro Szaran who was astonished to find that it played beautifully. This led to the creating of a full orchestra composed of recycled instruments.
The children so inspired by the music developed such skill, that they have gone on to travel the world performing concerts in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, France and the Czech Republic.
“Healing Sounds” documents the personal and transformative journey in the lives of Szaran and three young students whose lives are forever changed by the man and his passion for music.
Maestro Luis Szaran was awarded the 2005 Skoll Foundation award for Social Entrepreneurship. |
