Coro Latinoamericano

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Learn more about Coro Latinoamericano: www.elcorolatino.com/about-us

Introduction to Coro Latinoamericano | Sandro Leal-Santiesteban | Joan Kimmel

Introduction to Coro Latinoamericano

We are excited to spotlight our community partner: Coro Latinoamericano!

Founded by Venezuelan classical guitarist and choir director Daniel Marchán in 1997, Coro Latinoamericano is a chorus committed to the celebration and transmission of Latin American music and culture throughout Pittsburgh, as well as building bridges to other peoples and cultures in Pittsburgh and beyond. Approximately half its current members are immigrants from Latin America, while the rest are US nationals interested in Latin American languages, music, cultures, and traditions — and all members are Pittsburghers committed to “uniting the Americas.” The chorus’ repertoire represents not only a regional variety of musical and rhythmic styles, both traditional and popular, but also seeks to emphasize a rich array of multiple ethnic and linguistic traditions — European, indigenous and African — all of which are present in the melody, cadence and lyrics of the songs they perform. 

 

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Sandro Leal-Santiesteban on Coming Home to Cuba

Lourdes Santiesteban, Music Director of Coro Latinoamericano in Pittsburgh, said the immigrant’s perspective on home is one that deserves more visibility in our community. “When you look up the word ‘home’ on Google or the Webster Dictionary, you see so many interpretations… but nothing about the concept for immigrants.” 

Recently, members of Lourdes’ own family had a “coming home” experience they will never forget. In January, Lourdes’ son Sandro Leal-Santiesteban traveled back to Cuba to reconnect with relatives he hadn’t seen in more than a decade. A violinist and concertmaster here in Pittsburgh, Sandro has performed with MCP many times, and he is married to one of our very own MCP singers, alto Emily Leal-Santiesteban! In his own words, this is Sandro’s story: 

“After 10 years of not seeing my dad, my Cuban relatives, and a three-year ordeal with my Cuban passport, Rafael, Emily and I went to Cuba! Emily (my wife) and Rafael (my son) got the chance to meet his Cuban abuelo, AKA my dad, some of my relatives, and even my very first Cuban violin teacher, Ricardo Justiz! Though I only had him for a short amount of time as my mentor, he was the one to teach me the very basics of violin playing, and for this I was very fortunate.”

“It’s quite different to visit your home country as a husband and a dad. One definitely has a different perspective about life and how fragile it is. Words cannot describe my emotions during my trip back to Cuba. No matter what anyone might say, I’m always a Cuban. No matter where life might take me in the years to come, I’m still a Cuban and will always be. In spite of leaving twenty plus years ago to better myself as a person, individual, and professional, I feel the pain of the family absence in my life. Maybe less so with the responsibility of being a husband and a dad, but it’s there and it’s something that, as many immigrants, one must live with.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Joan Kimmel, Vocalist, Coro Latinoamericano

When Joan Kimmel joined Coro Latinoamericano, she had been searching for a “musical home” for quite some time. Her passions for singing and connecting with people from backgrounds different from her own have kept her an active member of this chorus for nearly a decade. 

“I began working on learning Spanish years ago when I was in a graduate program for physical anthropology, and my focus was the Maya civilization,” Joan said. “I was beginning to see how the western hemisphere was changing, and in particular how prominent Hispanic culture and the Spanish language were becoming in our region. I really wanted to embrace that.” Being a part of Coro Latinoamericano has only deepened her appreciation for the languages, music, culture, and journeys of her neighbors from Latin America. The repertoire they perform is not only lively and joyful, but it celebrates different traditions, including indigenous music in the languages of the Maya and Aztec. 

Joan said she feels lucky that this chorus is enriching the local community she calls home. “Home, to me, is the North Side of Pittsburgh,” said Joan. “When I was 27 years old, I moved to the North Side in a little row house. I’ll never forget hearing the people walking and talking out in the neighborhood outside my window and thinking, ‘This is it. This is home.’ I’d never felt that anywhere else. I’ve lived in a few other places since then, but I’m back in the North Side again, like I always knew I would be.” 

Active in community development and neighborhood organization, Joan said celebrating and promoting diversity — of race, ethnicity, language, culture, music, and beyond — is one of the most valuable ways we can better the places we call home. It’s one of the many reasons she is proud to be a part of Coro Latinoamericano.