Havana, Cuba
CELEBRATION ORCHESTRA
April 18 - 27, 2024
It’s impossible to go to Cuba and not come back changed. Ask any first-timers that go to Cuba… they will all say that they’ll be back! We had a fantastic project to Cuba with the Celebration Orchestra, which included concerts in Havana, Las Terrazas, Artemisa, and Pinar del Rio. We were hosted by Yamjila Pérez, the music director for the Western Baptist Convention in Cuba.
Our project started in Havana where we were joined by about 50 Cuban musicians. There were so many of us that we filled half of the pews!
Next we went to Las Terrazas, which is a really beautiful community with lots of hills and gorgeous views. We were joined by many musicians for an afternoon rehearsal and concert that evening outside. We played with the same musicians the next day in Artemisa at a local theater. It was great getting to spend a couple of days with them and get to know them.
After that we went to Pinar del Rio for a few days, where we were joined by even more musicians! Getting to play with local musicians really is one of the best parts about these projects. Building connections and sharing God’s love is what it’s all about. Many of our participants continue these relationships once they return home. We spent two days rehearsing at the Baptist church in Pinar del Rio, then did an outdoor concert at the church. Several of the musicians we played with gave their lives to Christ that night.
We concluded the project by coming back to Havana and doing a concert at the Baptist Seminary. We were joined by a huge choir…they added so much! We did several songs that are popular in Cuba. It was very moving witnessing the passion the Cubans had singing original Cuban worship songs.
All in all, twenty people came to accept Christ that week. We don’t always get to see the fruits of our labor, so when we do, it’s wonderful to see! We’ll be going back to Cuba next year and hope you will join us!
