UNIVERSITY OF SÃO PAULO - BRAZIL

Students and alumni from USP make up the world’s first parasymphonic orchestra

The project, aimed at musicians with disabilities, includes faculty, students, and graduates from the School of Communications and Arts (ECA) in its composition. The initiative promotes social interaction and visibility for the cause of inclusion.

*Text: Rosiane Lopes, from LAC – Communication Agency Laboratory of ECA

**Intern under the supervision of Moisés Dorado

Art: Carolina Borin**

The São Paulo Parasymphonic Orchestra, Opesp, has as its main objective to support, encourage, develop, and promote culture and education for people with disabilities. – Image: Reproduction/Opesp

 

The São Paulo Parasymphonic Orchestra (Opesp) was created in December 2022 by cultural producer Igor Cayres with the goal of providing protagonism to musicians with disabilities. Through music, the initiative aims to contribute to a society free of prejudices and stigmas. The project, which includes musicians from the School of Communications and Arts (ECA) at the University of São Paulo (USP), establishes Opesp as the world’s first orchestra led by people with disabilities (PWDs).

“The year 2023 consolidates and expands the project’s reach. The longer season increases visibility and prompts more reflection on the subject of inclusion,” says Marcelo Jaffé, the viola professor of the orchestra and a faculty member at the School of Communications and Arts (ECA) at USP. Until September of this year, Opesp performed in various regions of São Paulo and also in Rio de Janeiro during a concert season.

Jaffé mentions that he participated in weekly classes with professional and social discussions aimed at helping musicians understand their role in society. For the professor, being part of Opesp is a source of great pride and learning.

“As a pianist and music teacher, it is a privilege and an honor to be part of the Opesp Project, adding to what, in my musical journey, is one of the most important missions with music — the human aspect,” reports Aída Machado, pedagogical coordinator of Opesp and a master’s degree holder in Music from ECA.

Visibility for more accessibility

According to Aída, a “bold, non-governmental, and non-partisan project like Opesp faces various challenges.” The difficulties range from forming a faculty committed to the special work to the need to provide accessible concerts for the PWD audience.

Despite the adversities, the coordinator points out that the achievements throughout the year have been immense. Examples include the increased number of PWD musicians applying for the selection process, established partnerships, the excellence of the faculty, and the promotion of the importance of “having musicians with disabilities and artistic competence in an orchestral organism.”

The coordinator also reports that orchestras, in general, do not usually include people with disabilities, as their access to music education is rare, and there are few specialized professionals available to meet the demand of PWDs.

“The Opesp fills a gap and proves the importance of giving the opportunity for so many talents to flourish. We hope that Opesp becomes a step for people with disabilities who have chosen music as their language to grow and pave their way toward everything they wish to do with music,” explains the musician.

Preparations for 2024 have already begun. Opesp intends to open new positions, continuing with the protagonism of people with disabilities.

Other Figures in Opesp In addition to Marcelo Jaffé, the current faculty member of ECA, Elizabeth Del Grande, Opesp’s percussion teacher, was a guest lecturer at the Department of Music (CMU) from 2002 to 2004.

As for the orchestra members, some of them have previously been part of the Chamber Orchestra of ECA (Ocam), an orchestra composed of CMU students and university extension courses. This includes violinist Igor Cavalcante and violists Matheus Assunção and Wesley Vasconcelos.

Two graduates of the School also contribute to the Orchestra: bassoonist Moisés Lessa, a Music bachelor, and Raphael de Noronha, a Cello bachelor. In addition to them, two current ECA students are part of the project: Joyce Dcalegari, a student in the Viola bachelor’s program, and Christian Lavorenti, a student in the Flute bachelor’s program.

Integration without prejudice

“Playing in Opesp has been a wonderful experience for me since the beginning,” says Christian Lavorenti, a music student at USP. When asked about the challenges of playing in the Orchestra, the flutist mentions that the musician’s routine is challenging in itself due to the many hours of study, technical repertoire issues, competition in the market, or even the exposure during performances.

Even though it is a challenging reality, he describes the experience as rewarding. “It is extremely gratifying to realize that every minute of study and rehearsal was worth it because this way we could take our music to many places and reach many people,” he says.

Christian began his music studies at Coral Linda Juventude in Extrema, MG, where he had his first classes in musicalization and recorder. After that period, he started studying transverse flute. In 2014, he joined the Music for All Project, still in Extrema, and four years later, he began studying at the Municipal School of Music of São Paulo (EMM), where he decided to pursue a career in music. He took the entrance exam for the music course and joined USP in 2020.

For the flutist, participating in the 2023 season of Opesp was a unique experience, different from what he had previously experienced musically. In addition to growing professionally as a member of the Orchestra, Christian also mentions his personal growth, resulting from the friendships he has built with other musicians in the project. According to him, these relationships have expanded his perspective on the experience of a person with a disability.

 

Opesp receives support from the Municipal Secretary of Culture of the city of São Paulo and the Secretary of Culture and Creative Economy of the State of São Paulo. In six episodes, the series “Corredores da Opesp” (Opesp Hallways) presents moving stories of musicians who are part of the São Paulo Parasymphonic Orchestra. In its first season, “Corredores da Opesp” invites you to experience the transformative power of music.