“Thursdays at La Gallera” kicked off with a folk music concert by the Diapasón UIS String Ensemble from the Barbosa campus. This initiative is led by the Institute for Regional Outreach and Distance Education (IPRED), with support from the Office of the Vice-Rectory for Research and Extension, and aims to strengthen ties between the regional campuses and the Central Campus.
“This initiative stems from the meetings held at the regional campuses as part of the territorial agenda known as ‘Dialogues of Knowledge.’ That is where the idea was born to bring student groups and musical ensembles representing the cultural richness of our regions to the Central Campus,” said Gonzalo Alberto Patiño, director of IPRED.
For the members of the group, this performance not only marked their first visit to the Central Campus in Bucaramanga but also an opportunity to share their musical and artistic talent with a new audience.
“We’re very happy with our performance. We brought a sample of our traditions, of the folklore of the Velez province. We wanted to showcase the different musical styles of our region, from the torbellino and the guabina to the Colombian Andean instrumental music that represents us so well,” said Juan Galeano, a member of the UIS Diapasón String Ensemble.
The artists also highlighted the importance of these venues, which allow the cultural work of the regional campuses to be showcased on iconic University stages such as the José Antonio Galán Open-Air Auditorium, also known as “la gallera.”
“It’s very valuable that these opportunities are created. For us, as students from regional campuses, coming to the Central Campus is a very meaningful experience, and even more so to be able to share what we do in the realm of folklore,” commented Ana Sofía Tavera, a member of the musical group.
For their part, attendees highlighted the artistic quality of the performance and praised this initiative, expressing their interest in learning more about the cultural expressions of the different regional campuses.
“I think this project is very interesting because there are so many talented students. It would be great if more people knew about and recognized that culture is also alive and well at UIS,” said Gira Daniela López, an industrial engineering student.
“Thursdays at La Gallera” is scheduled to take place once a month, establishing itself as a venue for cultural exchange and gathering for the entire university community.
