ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A new Hispanic nonprofit, Conservatorio de Musica y Artes, has launched its first official program to help provide free or affordable music and art programs for Hispanic children.

What You Need To Know

  • Conservatorio de Musica y Artes has launched a new program

  • The program provides free music classes to Hispanic children

  • Funding came from Duke Energy and United Arts of Central Florida

  • The nonprofit hopes to expand the program to more children

​“Conservatorio de musica y artes was created a few months ago and it was when we identified the need for the arts in the Hispanic community," said Ada Maestre, one of the nonprofit's board members. “That’s when we thought that we could provide not only for children but adults too programs that are low cost or free of cost.”

Called El Despertar Musical or the musical awakening, the program was created thanks to funding from Duke Energy and United Arts of Central Florida. The summer music program helps 20 Hispanic children in underserved areas receive eight free virtual music classes through the summer. 

“It has been very challenging with the pandemic and that’s exactly why our first project called Despetar Musical is a virtual program," Maestre said. "It consists of eight sessions throughout the summer.”

She said they hope to one day expand the program for more children and open their own music school but they'll need more funding to do that.