¡Hola a todos! ❤️

My name is Alex Jimbo Viteri, a violinist born and raised right here in Guayaquil. This summer marks a pivotal moment for me as I launch the Guayaquil Chamber Players (GCP)! This debut year is featuring the talented musicians and sisters with Ecuadorian roots: cellist Laura Andrade and violist Rita Andrade.

What is Guayaquil Chamber Players all about?

Guayaquil Chamber Players (GCP) is a brand-new chamber music collective on the verge of its debut in June 2025. It’s an ensemble born from a desire to see a real shift in the musical landscape of our city, bringing together musicians from Ecuador and around the world who share a deep love for collaboration and a vision for something more meaningful here at home.

The seeds for this initiative were sown unexpectedly in 2023. I stumbled upon a photograph of Laura and Rita against the backdrop of Ecuador's Andean peaks. Recognizing the familiar scenery, I reached out, and to my genuine excitement, we discovered not only mutual connections within the classical music community but also a powerful bond through our shared Ecuadorian heritage. I shared with them a growing frustration among us local musicians in Guayaquil – a deep yearning for more opportunities to engage with and perform chamber music at a higher level, and how truly significant it would be for us to collaborate on something that could elevate our artistic environment.

Growing up in Guayaquil, I always felt a hunger for more. While there were musical outlets, the opportunities to delve into the intricate world of chamber music, the kind that truly challenges and inspires, often felt limited. When Laura and Rita embraced the invitation to come play, I knew this was a special opportunity to launch an endeavor that can change the way this city understands classical music. We believe that to cultivate a thriving musical community, we need to offer more than just concerts; we need to nurture a deeper understanding and appreciation for the art form itself.

Following that initial connection, we began to shape a program that goes beyond just performances. We envisioned a series of educational initiatives alongside traditional chamber music concerts including a very special, newly commissioned piece from the Grammy-winning composer Emilio Solla, that will have its world debut for the very first summer of Guayaquil Chamber Players. Maestro Solla’s renowned ability to weave together indigenous South American folk melodies with the heart of tango and jazz makes this commission particularly exciting. He will be crafting original music inspired by the soulful traditions of Yaraví and Pasillo, infused with the energy of Tango and Jazz.

As part of our summer 2025 concert series, the program will also include engaging educational classes and concerts designed for young musicians, hosted at the Contemporary Art Museum in Guayaquil.

Over a dynamic two-week program, we will offer:

✨Chamber music performances in welcoming, community-centered spaces that encourage dialogue and connection.

✨Educational family concerts held at the Anthropological and Contemporary Art Museum, aiming to spark a love for music in the next generation.

✨Inspiring workshops and masterclasses thoughtfully designed for young and emerging Ecuadorian musicians, providing crucial mentorship and guidance.

✨The world-premiere of the very special commission by composer Emilio Solla

At its core, GCP is about making chamber music more accessible and inclusive, yes, but it’s also about something more profound. Beyond just creating more performance opportunities and being more accessible to new audiences in Guayaquil, we want to actively help those audiences grow in their knowledge and appreciation of high-level music making. I truly believe that the more people understand what goes into creating meaningful performances, the more discerning and engaged they become as listeners—and in turn, that drives us as performers to raise our standards. Our hope is that this cycle of growth will not only strengthen the collective musicians of GCP but also create a sense of aspiration for younger musicians: not only as a group they would one day wish to be part of, but also as a model of music-making rooted in strong artistic values and a sincere passion for the craft.

Where Your Support Goes

To bring this vision of inspiring concerts and educational programs to life, we need your generous support. Every single contribution will directly support:

As someone who grew up navigating the limitations of the musical landscape here, the chance to build something truly inspiring, something that can elevate our standards and create new opportunities, is incredibly meaningful. GCP is living proof that when things are done with meaning and purpose, the same musicians who in other spaces play out of obligation, here give their all because they believe in what they are creating. We are here because we want to be. Because we want to tell stories with notes, to wear down every bristle of the bow as if it were the last brushstroke. To play to the limit. To live to the limit. With our heart in every measure. Because I believe that, through example, we can help raise the critical level of audiences. You cannot demand what you do not know. And if the public does not distinguish, we do not feel the obligation to improve. It's like soccer: the fan knows when a coach is good or not, when the team plays well. And that's why they demand. That demand raises the level. That virtuous circle does not yet exist in the classical music of our environment in Guayaquil, and I want GCP to be the one to set it in motion.

I also want to demonstrate that things can be done well, artistically and administratively, even without great resources in this country. We need someone to squeeze out all the juice we have inside, who challenges us, who allows us to walk in a determined direction and not just wander, someone who helps us grow. I want to be one of those people. I want to share everything: my experiences, my knowledge, and above all, my love for music. I want us to grow together and paint a sonic mural that future generations can be proud of. Because I want Guayaquil to have an ensemble with identity, something with which the city, the public, and the artists can feel reflected. Just as Barcelona and Emelec locally generate belonging through soccer, we want to achieve it through music, dreaming internationally of also being like the Real Madrid that everyone knows and where everyone wants to play.

The musicians of GCP are passionate people, with a deep vocation, who demand a lot from themselves and value being demanded of with criteria. They are professionals who have had enriching experiences outside the country, but who, due to current conditions, cannot share what they love in the way they wish. They are like Formula 1 cars without a driver. They need a space to express themselves at the level they know, where they can contribute to the musical construction of our country, and not only through teaching. An environment where merit prevails, where the best are respected, not crushed; where one can complain without fear of retaliation and the person who does so is seen as someone who cares and wants to contribute and not as the black sheep; where they can have dignified conditions to practice their art beyond salary; where we are artists, not bureaucrats; where level is valued above all.

Your support will directly contribute to our mission of enriching the musical landscape of Guayaquil, fostering artistic growth, and building meaningful connections through the power of music.

I am a dreamer who sometimes wakes up with ideas for change. I want to start changing things with these concerts, like a breath of fresh air in the face of everything that is wrong. We want to transform the world, our world, from our music stand, with a bow and four strings. I speak to you from the heart and with deep love. It is that love that burns in the chest and transforms into sound, with the hope that it reaches exactly where it should reach: the soul of the listener.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Alex Jimbo Viteri Violinist and Co-Founder, Guayaquil Chamber Players

We will be sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses, rehearsal and concert footage, and stories from our journey throughout the summer. We would be honored if you would support us and follow our story on Instagram @guayaquilchamberplayers.