Andean music and traditional Latin American sounds filled the Luis A. Calvo Auditorium at the Industrial University of Santander (UIS) on the second day of the 35th “Luis A. Calvo” Colombian Music Festival, with the concert “Esenciales” by singer Yineth Urquina Córdoba.
Songs such as “Te quiero libre” and “Me llevarás en ti” moved the audience during an evening that offered a musical journey through Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Argentina, featuring works that have shaped generations and are now part of Latin America’s collective memory.
Bambucos, pasillos, Peruvian waltzes, tangos, and other traditional rhythms came together in an intimate and elegant performance, accompanied by piano, percussion, tiple, and guitar. The artistic presentation blended musical tradition with new sensibilities and contemporary sounds, allowing the audience to rediscover iconic songs in fresh, never-before-heard versions.
Recognized for her outstanding artistic career, Yineth Urquina won the Grand Prize at the 2023 National Bambuco Competition and was named Best Vocal Soloist at the Mono Núñez Festival, establishing herself as one of the most representative voices of Colombian Andean music.
More than just a concert, “Esenciales” became an experience that connected with memory, emotions, and Latin American cultural roots.
Yineth Urquina Córdoba is a music teacher in training at the National Open and Distance University (UNAD) and has extensive experience in arts education, music pedagogy, and cultural management in the department of Caquetá. Her career includes work as a teacher, artist-educator, and coordinator of music centers affiliated with the Fundación Nacional Batuta and initiatives promoted by the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Knowledge.
For Leando Avila Herrera, a concertgoer, these kinds of venues are essential for keeping the country’s musical traditions alive and introducing new generations to authentic Colombian sounds. “It’s very important that these venues exist because, unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer cultural spaces in the city that promote Andean music and folklore. Many young people no longer know what a bambuco, a pasillo, or a guabina is. That’s why we thank the Industrial University of Santander for opening these festivals to the entire community and promoting public access to culture”.
For her part, María José Pérez, a UIS student, highlighted the value of art and music as settings for well-being, learning, and connection within university life. “I love coming to the auditorium and meeting the artists who perform here. These are moments when I can disconnect from my academic life and daily routine. Art is vast, and here at the Luis A. Calvo, they show us all the cultural richness that exists. It’s important that we, as students, take advantage of these spaces for knowledge, sensitivity, and connection”.
A festival that keeps the essence of Colombian Andean music alive
The 35th “Luis A. Calvo” Colombian Music Festival continues to establish itself as a venue for engaging with the country’s musical heritage, fostering a dialogue between tradition and modernity through concerts, workshops, and artistic expressions.
The program concludes this Friday, May 22, with the “15 Years” concert by the Giovanni Parra Quintet, a group with five Latin Grammy nominations, which will present a musical journey through tango and Colombian Andean music. The evening will also feature an opening performance by John Jairo Torres de la Pava, winner of the 2025 “Luis A. Calvo” First National Composition Prize. Purchase your tickets at: https://linktr.ee/TiqueteraUIS
The festival is organized by the UIS with support from the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Knowledge, Arts for Peace, the National Association of Colombian Andean Music (ANCA), the Armonía Foundation, and the Cultural Center of the Banco de la República in Bucaramanga.
