Emantero Valbrun

When Emantero arrived at the Cemuchca summer music camp in 2018, we were immediately taken by his talent, discipline and drive, and were astonished to learn that he had only been playing the cello for one year! Emantero, now 21 years old, was born in Port-au-Prince but left the capital after the devastating earthquake of 2010. His family moved to Port-de-Paix in the north, and it was there that he began his life in music. Emantero started out as a trombone player but when, in 2017, the director of his music school asked him to add cello he agreed and, in no time at all, was hooked. 

As Emantero puts it:

"For me, I can say that music has saved my life, it has changed my life, it has given me another way to live, and it has made me who I am today. My instrument is like a second mother to me. Because of music I have more options and more opportunities. Really, it is hard to find the words to say what music means to me. Music and my instrument have made me, have helped me grow, have helped me complete myself."

Through your support, Emantero was able to receive scholarships to two more camps that summer and the next. There, he had his first experiences playing in both full and string orchestra, playing chamber music and, most importantly, getting regular lessons every few days. His playing took off! 

The most recent result of all this hard work is that Emantero was accepted as one of 60 Fellows, out of more than 2,000 who auditioned, for the Orchestra of the Americas Virtual Academy that finished up earlier this summer. Only the third OA participant from Haiti, Emantero has experienced an extraordinary six-month period of learning, of meeting colleagues from 20 countries across the Americas, of having masterclasses with principal players of major symphonies in the US and Europe, of being pushed to reflect on his own values and desires for his future and on how he can help his local community and, more broadly, the global community. 

Living conditions in Haiti can be challenging; there is little electricity, there is always noise, internet access is very unstable, and the necessity to earn enough money to eat is always front and center. Emantero jumped through all kinds of hoops to make sure he was able to attend the sessions with his phone charged, while at the same time working in his dad’s small hardware store and helping his mom who is a street merchant. In collaboration with colleagues from across the Americas, Emantero learned how to film and edit videos on a phone, how to use special effects and how to place himself artistically with this group of outstanding young musicians.

We are so proud of Emantero and his hard work and it has been a delight to see his growth as a citizen of the global community of musicians!