The first conductor trained by the Instituto Moinho Cultural Sul-Americano (South American Cultural Mill Institute) has just reached another important milestone in his professional career. José Maikson, who began his musical training in Corumbá, was invited to conduct one of the tours of the Nova Orquestra (New Orchestra), one of the most innovative concert-music projects in the country.
The invitation reaffirms the impact of the artistic training developed by Moinho Cultural over more than two decades and of the opportunities provided by the Programa Vale Música (a music-education program), which has helped broaden access for children, adolescents and young people to experiences of excellence in the musical field.
Maikson’s story began in childhood, when he joined Moinho Cultural. Although music was already part of his life, it was at the institution that he found the conditions necessary to turn a dream into a profession. “I am very grateful for all the opportunities I received. Music was always part of my life, even before Moinho, but to make a living from music you need access to learning, and Moinho gave me that,” he says.
Throughout his training, the group experience was one of the most memorable experiences of his journey. For the conductor, orchestral practice was fundamental to consolidating the knowledge acquired and developing his musical identity. “Playing in the orchestra was always the best experience of all. It is where we put all our learning into practice, develop musicality and experience music in its most complete form,” he said.
“When I moved to São Paulo, the musical level was much higher and the orchestras much larger. I was always dreaming of bringing that level to Moinho and to my city, and I believe I managed to do that in the five years I contributed as a teacher in the project. My greatest fruits are the many students I trained at the Institute and who today are part of the Orquestra de Câmara do Pantanal (Pantanal Chamber Orchestra),” he recalls.
Throughout this journey, the Programa Vale Música played a fundamental role in expanding his opportunities for training and professional development. “Vale Música contributed several professional opportunities, such as studying with the Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira (Brazilian Symphony Orchestra), taking part in tours with the Nova Orquestra and playing with the Orquestra Ouro Preto (Ouro Preto Orchestra). The program gave me the opportunity to study, to become a professional and, today, to found a professional symphony orchestra,” he says.
For Márcia Rolon, founder and artistic director of Moinho Cultural, the achievement represents the result of collective work built over the years in partnership with institutions that believe in the transformative potential of art. “Seeing Maikson take on the conducting of a national tour is a source of great pride for all of us. He was the first conductor trained by Moinho Cultural, and his journey represents what we have believed from the beginning: that art has the power to transform lives and open paths that often seemed impossible for young people from our region”, she emphasized.
Márcia Rolon also stresses that the Programa Vale Música played a fundamental role in this journey, creating opportunities, broadening horizons and allowing our participants to experience things that contributed to their artistic and human development. “We are very grateful for this partnership that transforms lives every day,” she concluded.
Currently, José Maikson devotes himself to the Orquestra Sinfônica da Fronteira (Border Symphony Orchestra), an initiative that seeks to expand opportunities for musicians from the region and strengthen musical production in Mato Grosso do Sul. “The Sinfônica da Fronteira will allow our musicians to have high-level professional experiences without having to leave the region,” he says.
By taking part as a guest conductor in one of the tours of the Nova Orquestra, José Maikson brings to Brazilian stages not only his personal story but also the legacy of training built on the border between Brazil and Bolivia. His journey reinforces the mission of the Instituto Moinho Cultural and the Programa Vale Música to expand opportunities, reveal talents and transform lives through art.
