In these times of cruelty and savagery, it is of utmost importance that we always work to "ensayar la alegría y el canto". Victor Jara, the voice of the Chilean people, dedicated his life to that mission. Shortly after the President Salvador Allende was overthrown in September 1973, Victor Jara was taken prisoner, tortured and brought to an untimely and unwarranted death by machine gun fire for refusing to stop singing. Both in life and after his death, Victor became a symbol of the fight against the perpetual struggle for human rights throughout Latin America. For us, his life is a reminder that we, too, should never stop singing for harmony, love and social justice. 

And so, on March 12 at 8PM, El Taller Latino Americano, along with filmmakers John Travers and John Summa, celebrate the life and music of this folk legend with a "peña", a musical gathering. "Peñas" were made popular in the 1960's by folk musicians like Jara and Violeta Parra in Chile, while at the same time Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie were holding their own American folk music "hootenannies" at clubs like New York's The Bitter End. We invite you to join us to sing the songs of Victor in celebration of his life and his music. Travers and Summa will also be showing clips from their upcoming documentary film "The Resurrection of Victor Jara". 

For those musicians and/or singers who are interested in performing one of Victor Jara's songs, please R.S.V.P to us via e-mail at info@tallerlatino.org no later than Monday March 7.