–unveils its board, website; announces October 19 concert with Spanish guitarist Armando Orbon

THE Euro-Guyana Classical Music and Opera Association Inc. has been formally incorporated under Guyana’s Companies Act as a non-profit company, marking a major milestone for an initiative launched earlier this year with strong support from European Union Ambassador, Luca Pierantoni.
According to a press release from the European Union (EU), the association, established exclusively for charitable, educational, cultural, and artistic purposes, has adopted as its founding motto a line from German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche: “Without music, life would be a mistake.”
The association’s strategic mandate rests on two pillars. Through Performances & Cultural Exchange, it will stage concerts, recitals, festivals, competitions, and opera productions designed to foster intercultural dialogue between Guyanese and European artists and institutions.
Through music education & community outreach, it will deliver structured educational programmes in schools and communities, including masterclasses, lectures, and workshops.
Among its first major undertakings is a concert on October 19, 2026, at St George’s Cathedral, staged in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain and featuring renowned Spanish guitarist, Armando Orbon.
The event builds on the experience of an opera concert held at the same venue on June 8, which drew an audience of approximately 900 people.
To coincide with its formal establishment, the Association has also launched its official website, www.euroguyanesemusic.org.
The platform will serve as a central hub for updates on upcoming performances, masterclasses, and community outreach programmes, and will allow visitors, artists, and music educators to register for membership and access collaborative opportunities directly through the portal.
The association is governed by an eleven-member multidisciplinary Board of Directors combining organisational leadership, seasoned musicians and educators, business executives, and legal expertise: Interim President, Luca Pierantoni; Vice-President, Christian Sobers; Secretary, Leonida Foo; Assistant Secretary, Shanette Johnson; Treasurer, Dr Alista Bishop; Assistant Secretary, Aliyah Hinds; Artistic Director, Chie Clarke; Institutional Relations Director, Dee George; Training and Education Director, Katusha Frazer; Private Sector Relations Director, Amber Low; and Legal Affairs Director, Alanna Farmer.
Five other distinguished Guyanese have also been named professional members of the Association: Marilyn Dewar, Russel Lancaster, Dr Wendy Rudder, Kelly Valenzuela, and Pauline Mitchell.