Cuatro Puntos, Neighbor

Cuatro Puntos refers to an organization based in Hartford, Connecticut that currently consists of the Music Moves Hartford program for those who have experienced homelessness in Hartford, Cuatro Puntos Chamber Ensemble (resident musicians),and various guest artists and workshops. We also value partnerships with other organizations and individuals with a similar mission, both near and far. Past collaborations include the Afghanistan National Institute of Music, AFCECO Orphanage music program in Kabul, an El Sistema Program in Tarija, Bolivia, and the American School for the Deaf. When partnering with projects abroad, it is important that the collaboration lead to enrichment of our activities in Connecticut. Everything we do must closely align with our mission statement: Cuatro Puntos is dedicated to intercultural dialogue and universal access through the performance, writing, and teaching of music. The structure of the organization is an executive director, a Board of Directors, a "Music Moves Hartford" artistic director, a core of six resident musicians, and an ever-growing list of volunteers and community partners.

Meet Kevin Bishop, our Executive Director.

HISTORY

Cuatro Puntos was founded in 2012 when it sent a group of resident musicians to Bolivia to volunteer at a rural “El Sistema” style music school. Cuatro Puntos was founded to foster cross-cultural projects between differing New England communities, and between New England and the outside world. Our visits and dialogue with the Bolivian music school ignited our passion, and Cuatro Puntos began giving concerts and doing school workshops in Connecticut while searching for other ways to bridge cultural gaps. 2013 began our relationship with the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, which continues to yield school workshops, concerts, and cultural exchanges in Connecticut. Members of Cuatro Puntos traveled to Afghanistan to teach, record, and write down Afghan music, which included several summer visits and a one year residency. This yielded a collaborative album between Cuatro Puntos and the music students in Afghanistan titled The Rosegarden of Light.

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Cuatro Puntos has maintained a regular concert series in Glastonbury since 2012, and in 2015 began a parallel series in downtown Hartford at Christ Church Cathedral. Cuatro Puntos works with schools around the state, and currently partners with Hartford Performs to bring Afghanistan-related workshops to Hartford public schools. In 2014, “Chamber Music for Peace” was launched in Hartford, which consisted of annual workshops of 4-weeks length where local music students learned how to engage and connect their community through music. 2017 launched our journey into music making and enjoyment by the Deaf, starting a journey into exploring accessibility which included a partnership with the American School for the Deaf and opened numerous doors for bridging Deaf and hearing audiences. This resulted in such things as a performance and panel discussion at Teacher's College of Columbia University, and workshop with/performances for deaf students.

Cuatro Puntos' resident ensemble has performed extensively throughout the United States as well as in Bolivia, Brazil, England, Germany, the Netherlands, and Afghanistan. Notable festival appearances: Brighton Festival (England); Late Music Festival (England); Purbeck Arts Festival (England); Bach Festival (Bolivia); National Flute Convention (Washington DC). Notable university residencies and performances: New England Conservatory (Boston); Goldsmith College (London); Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (Germany); SESC Prainha (Brazil); University of Hartford (Connecticut); University of Connecticut; Columbia University (New York City). Notable concert series appearances: Silk Mill (England); Casa de la Cultura (Bolivia); French Cultural Centre (Afghanistan); Seabury Music Institute Series (Connecticut); Advent Library Series (Boston); Connecticut Alliance for Music.

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Notable artistic guests include Dr. Reza Vali (Iranian composer); Dr. Sadie Harrison (British/Australian composer); Dr. Eden Macadam-Somer (composer/violinist); Alika Hope (singer/workshop leader) and many others.