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In May of 2008, director/conductor Norman Gamboa will take the Washburn University Symphony Orchestra on their first international tour.  The American Embassy in Honduras invited the Orchestra to perform as featured guests in concert halls throughout the country. The Orchestra will begin their jam-packed trip on May 18th.  During their stay, they will visit three cities and perform in 8 concert halls.

Gamboa is excited for the venture and explains that, “performing in Honduras is an opportunity the Orchestra has an obligation to take”.  As a native Costa Rican who has become a world renowned musician, Gamboa’s life and work is a testimony to the profession and personal achievements made through international exposure.  Gamboa began his musical career at the age of 10, as a student at the Conservatorio de Castella for the Arts of Costa Rica. Upon graduation, Gamboa began his career with the National Musical Institute of Costa Rica as both a performer and musical instructor.  Later, Gamboa furthered his musical studies at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, Montclaire State University, and Baylor State University. Gamboa has also been in front of many notable orchestras such as the Costa Rica National Symphony Orchestra, the National Orchestra of Nicaragua, the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Honduras, the Mérida State Symphony Orchestra and the Los Llanos Symphony Orchestra in Venezuela, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Medellín in Colombia, Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo in Brazil, the Západoceský Symfonický and the Czech Republic Orchestra.  Additionally, he served as Artistic Director of the Unión Brass Ensemble of Costa Rica with which he successfully toured throughout the United States, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

Gamboa’s international experiences shaped his career and inspired him to give Washburn students the same opportunities. According to Gamboa, some of his orchestra students have never been on an airplane, let alone traveled outside of the country.  Gamboa noted that performing in Honduras will allow the musicians to grow and learn in a way that could never be achieved in the classroom or the University music hall. It will give the students the opportunity to partake in a cultural exchange that will contribute to a growing and evolving musical culture across the world.  Gamboa believes this exchange will contribute to the cultural development and international recognition of Washburn University and the State of Kansas.  

Since Gamboa became the director of the University Orchestra in 2002, he dedicates himself not only to his students, but also to the growth of the musical culture within Kansas.  Gamboa takes his orchestra on numerous tours throughout Kansas with the hope that their travels will allow Kansans to foster an appreciation for their own type of music, and the talented musicians who represent communities within the region. The opportunity to perform in Honduras will allow the Washburn University Orchestra to reach beyond Kansas and into the international community, where the musicians will proudly represent their University and state.

However, there is still much for Gamboa and the Orchestra to do before the plans take shape. Traveling to Honduras is an expensive adventure, which is estimated to cost around $40,000. Gamboa and his students have worked endlessly raising funds through numerous avenues. They received donations from private individual donors, the Washburn Student Government Association, Manning Music, Hume Music, as well as Security Benefit. Additional funds were raised through a large number of student activities such as raffles, garage sales, and ice cream sales. Despite the generous contribution made by the aforementioned donors, the Orchestra is still $25,000 short of meeting the $40,000 mark.

The Hispanic and Latin Affairs Commission is proud to support the Washburn University Symphony Orchestra. Norman Gamboa is a prominent and achieved member of the Hispanic and Kansas Community who shares the Commission’s goals of creating community and cultural acceptance and awareness. We encourage the Washburn University Symphony Orchestra’s efforts to create the growth and cultural development of Kansas’s musicians and students, as well as the Kansas community throughout their travels to Honduras and future endeavors in promoting education and the arts. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Maggie Moo’s 
Where:  17th and Wanamaker
When: March 24, April 7 from 6-8 pm
Percentage profit goes to WU Orchestra

Garage Sale:
When: March 28th and 29th.
Where: 2015 SW Buchanan

Mail Personal Contributions to:
Norman Gamboa
1700 S.W. College Avenue
Topeka KS 66621