ConCuerda
Helping kids develop their musical potential
ConCuerda is a non-profit Canadian organization that repairs and restores instruments for underfunded youth orchestras in the Global South. It facilitates knowledge exchange and collaboration amongst luthiers and promotes cultural understanding.
ConCuerda also promotes a broader dialogue about culture and the arts and their potential for positive social impact. Since 2017, ConCuerda has supported young musicians, primarily from disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Cartagena, Colombia.
ConCuerda has collaborated with grassroots organizations like Colectivo Canta and Nuestra Orquesta, as well as other organizations such as the Music Conservatory Adolfo Mejía of the Fine Arts and Sciences University of Bolívar (UNIBAC), the Claustro La Merced Cultural Space of Cartagena University, and the José Manuel Torices Symphonic Orchestra of INEM.
we have succesfully led
7
ConCuerda Festivals
we've collaborated with
different organizations
25
we've fixed more than
stringed instruments
300
Our directors
Liliana Gutierrez - founder & director
Liliana has had a deep connection with music throughout her entire life. During childhood, she learned to play the guitar and studied piano at the Music Conservatory of the National University in Bogotá. Later, she taught herself how to play the Charango and founded a musical group for young people. After some years, she established a concert production company specializing in jazz and rock. During the early stages of her professional career in Finance and International Relations, she participated in the organization of Rock al
Parque festivals, which the Mayor's Office of Bogotá organized. She also formulated and directed a successful social and artistic program that served nearly 10,000 young people in Bogotá. Later, Liliana moved to Canada, where she earned a Master of Arts in Political Science and Public Policy. She joined the Canadian government's public service, where she has been working with Indigenous peoples for fifteen years. Alongside Sergio Rodriguez, she participated in the Beethoven string quartet project. In the local music scene in Montreal, she met Tom Wilder, and in 2014, they decided to create ConCuerda, a non-profit organization that supports children and youth orchestras in Colombia. Their goal is to provide resources for young musicians who may not have the necessary means to maintain their instruments in good condition, thus motivating them to continue pursuing their musical passions.
Tom Wilder - founder & director
Tom Wilder was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. After receiving his Bachelor's degree in Anthropology and Political Science from Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland, Tom attended the Chicago School of Violin Making and honed his skills in Seoul, Los Angeles, and Paris. In 1991, Tom founded Wilder & Davis Luthiers Inc. in Montreal, Canada, and in 2002, he opened a second workshop in western Canada, in Banff, Alberta. In 2008, he earned his Master's degree in
Communications and Art History from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. Tom Wilder is a former president of the Federation of Violin and Bow Makers of America, former Canadian delegate to the "Entente internationales des luthiers et archetiers d'art," and a member of the Violin Society of America. In 2010, Tom published the three-volume compilation "The Conservation, Restoration, and Repair of Stringed Instruments and Their Bows," which has won several awards. Tom has been part of ConCuerda since 2014. Recently, Tom successfully completed his doctoral dissertation at the University of Cambridge, titled "The Forge of an Icon: The Violin in 19th Century London."
Sergio Rodriguez - journalism workshop director
He has always been passionate about literature, music, and the arts, and he has combined this passion with his work in international development. After graduating in Communication from Universidad Javeriana and working in video production, Sergio began his career in social development. He travelled extensively, working with local communities and organizations. Years later, he pursued a Master in Applied Human Sciences at Concordia University. He worked on social and environmental sustainability, travelling through diverse cultures and geographies. In Montreal, he teamed up with Liliana Gutierrez and the Adorno String Quartet musicians Brian and Katherine Manker, Johannes Jansonius, and Jasmine Schnarr to realize the Beethoven String Quartet Project. This project involved performing Beethoven's string quartets in the living rooms of friends' houses, aiming to restore chamber music to its intimate and social character. Thanks to his involvement with
ConCuerda, Sergio has been able to merge his interest in the arts with his international experience in environmental and social performance, generating a positive impact.
Our Work Shown By Others
Local journalists have documented our activities in Cartagena.
01/03/2023
This radio session was held to shed light on the start of the ConCuerda Festival of 2023. With the input of Liliana Gutierrez, they gave information as to what the festival consisted.
02/03/2023
This article highlighted the start of our festival of 2023, while also listing the different activities we are doing in Cartagena.
03/03/2023
The article explains the work that we do in Cartagena, focusing on the restoration of 40 violins and the generous donation of instruments to educational institutions.
20/02/2018
The article highlights our ConCuerda Festival in Cartagena from 2018 and included the partners that helped us throughout the process.
Our Amazing Partners
We wouldn't be able to achieve a lot without the generous support and collaboration of our partners. They play a vital role in enabling us to fulfill our mission and make a meaningful impact in our communities.
"Thank you to our partners for believing in our mission"
- Liliana Gutierrez, Founder & Director of ConCuerda
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