VZCZCXYZ0020
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGT #1250/01 3142212
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 102211Z NOV 09 ZFF6
FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0385
INFO RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001250 
 
SIPDIS 
STATE FOR ECA/PE/C/CU (LPROCTOR 
CBARROSSE) 
WHA/PDA (MLEE) 
EMBASSIES FOR PAO/CAO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OEXC KPAO SCUL
SUBJECT: GUATEMALA PERFORMING ARTS INITIATIVE (PAI) PROPOSAL - 
TROMBONIST LUIS BONILLA AND ENSEMBLE TO PLAY TENTH ANNUAL BINATIONAL 
CENTER JAZZ FESTIVAL, FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010 
 
REF: STATE 75426 
 
¶1. SUMMARY:  Post proposes to program critically-acclaimed, U.S. 
Spanish-speaking jazz artist Luis Bonilla and ensemble to perform 
in the U.S.-Guatemala Binational Center's (Instituto Guatemalteco 
Americano, IGA) Tenth Annual International Jazz Festival, and Post 
seeks PAI funding for same.  Guatemala will bring Bonilla's quintet 
for performances and outreach activities from February 28 to March 
7, 2010.  Post will work with IGA and Bonilla to reach out to new 
audiences and marginalized youth in three distinct regions of 
Guatemala.  ECA's Robert Keith identified Bonilla as a musician 
with ample artistic merit for the IGA Jazz Festival; Bonilla has 
traveled as a Cultural Envoy to Honduras and Costa Rica and is a 
member of Jazz at Lincoln Center's Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra.  Post 
had wished to propose a regional itinerary with another post; 
however, this was not possible due to Bonilla's already tight 
performance agenda with Jazz at Lincoln Center, vis-a-vis the 
timing of the Jazz Festival.  However, Post feels that a 
single-country program in Guatemala ????- a country of 12 million 
including a large percentage of indigenous and youth - will still 
effectively meet PAI and Post's Outreach goals.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
¶2. PERFORMERS:  The ensemble features Bonilla on trombone; Ivan 
Renta on saxophone; Arturo O'Farrill on piano; Andy McKee on string 
base; and Vince Cherico on drums.  Most of the ensemble members 
speak Spanish, which will greatly enhance outreach activities in 
Guatemala - especially in rural areas.  All performers are U.S. 
citizens. 
 
 
 
¶3. EVIDENCE OF ARTISTIC QUALITY:  ECA's Robert Keith identified 
Bonilla for Post as a musician with ample artistic merit for the 
IGA Jazz Festival.  Bonilla has traveled as a Cultural Envoy to 
Honduras and Costa Rica and is a member of Jazz at Lincoln Center's 
Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra.  The California-Costa Rican trombonist, 
composer and arranger is a prominent force in the New York and 
international Jazz and Latin scenes.  He received a Bachelor's 
degree in music from Cal State Los Angeles and a Master's degree in 
Jazz Performance and Composition from the Manhattan School of 
Music.  He is a faculty member at Temple University and at the 
Manhattan School of Music.  Bonilla has been sideman to such 
musical greats as McCoy Tyner, Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Bowie, Tom 
Harrell, Freddie Hubbard, Astrud Gilberto, Willie Colon and Toshiko 
Akiyoshi.  His studio sessions include Billy Childs, Gerry 
Mulligan, Tony Bennett, Marc Anthony, La India, Paquito d'Rivera 
and Mary J. Blige.  Bonilla is also a member of the Vanguard Jazz 
Orchestra and the Mingus Big Band.  He has recorded four CDs to 
glowing reviews.  More information, performance videos of the 
quintet, and critical reviews can be found at: 
www.trombonilla.com.  Recordings can also be heard at: 
www.amazon.com by selecting "Luis Bonilla" under the Music 
category. 
 
 
 
¶4. PROPOSED SCHEDULE:  Post proposes an eight-day Guatemalan tour 
from Sunday, February 28 to Sunday, March 7.  February 28 and March 
7 are travel days; Monday, March 1 to Saturday, March 6 are program 
days.  Events will take place in three distinct regions of 
Guatemala, in partnership with IGA and where IGA has its locations: 
Guatemala City, the Capital; Quetzaltenango (nicknamed "Xela"), the 
second largest city, widely regarded as Guatemala's indigenous 
capital; and the third largest city Coban, an indigenous cultural 
center with high levels of poverty, located in the Alta Verapaz 
region.  IGA inaugurated its newest satellite location in Coban in 
October 2009. 
 
 
 
The week-long program in Guatemala will include: 
 
 
 
-- artistic development workshops which will concentrate on 
teaching jazz music traditions and instrument skills to youth 
groups from traditionally marginalized youth populations; workshops 
will take place in:  Guatemala City, Xela, and Coban. 
 
 
 
-- three public performances:  one at IGA in Guatemala City, one at 
 
 
 
the Municipal Theater in Xela, and one at the Landivar University 
Auditorium (tentative location) in Coban. 
 
 
 
-- a jazz presentation to underprivileged youth in Xela. 
 
 
 
-- a master class in Guatemala City focused on the "business" of 
being a musician, a topic which is sure to spark interest of 
musicians - both jazz musicians and other professional musicians - 
here (see proposed program, below). 
 
 
 
-- two informal jam sessions, one in Guatemala City and one in 
Xela. 
 
 
 
-- media interviews, and social networking opportunities as 
appropriate. 
 
 
 
Mr. Bonilla explains that his goal as a Costa Rican-American is to 
see Central America prosper economically and musically, and he is 
willing to travel on behalf of the U.S. Department of State to 
promote cultural exchanges in jazz. 
 
 
 
Target audiences will include marginalized and at-risk youth, high 
school and university students, indigenous youth, jazz artists, and 
the general public. 
 
 
 
Guatemala proposes the following itinerary: 
 
 
 
Sunday, February 28: Travel and rest day 
 
 
 
Afternoon:  Arrivals to Guatemala City. 
 
 
 
Evening:  Equipment check. 
 
 
 
RON:  Hotel Mercure, Guatemala City 
 
 
 
Monday, March 1: 
 
 
 
8:00 a.m.:  Travel to Xela (4 hours). 
 
 
 
12 noon:  Lunch and rest. 
 
 
 
2:00-3:30 p.m.:  Jazz presentation for marginalized youth at Casa 
Noj Cultural Center, organized by Miguel Angel Asturias Academy 
(MAA; a school for underprivileged children who could not otherwise 
afford to go to school) and the Instituto Guatemalteco Americano - 
Xela (IGA Xela).  Will include State Department-sponsored Access 
English Language program students as feasible, with IGA's 
cooperation. 
 
 
 
4:00-5:30 p.m.:  Radio, TV and print media interviews, Xela.  TV 
Channel "Region M????s" on Cable DX, Radio Prism FM jazz station, and 
newspaper El Quetzalteco.  TV and radio will be taped.  Print 
 
 
 
interview can also be done ahead of time with material sent in 
advance to meet print deadline. 
 
 
 
7:00 p.m.:  Informal jam session with Xela jazz musicians, 
coordinated by IGA and the Quetzaltenango (Xela) Cultural 
Association.  Location TBD. 
 
 
 
RON:  Hotel Bonifaz, Quetzaltenango (Xela) 
 
 
 
Tuesday, March 2: 
 
 
 
10:00 a.m.-12 noon:  Jazz workshop with music students from "Aulas 
Musicales" (Musical Classrooms), a GOG Education Ministry 
initiative to provide music instruction for rural students outside 
the Capital, organized in cooperation with the Education Ministry, 
and with students from the Jesus Castillo Music School, a music 
school for low-income youth.  Location: Casa Noj Cultural Center. 
Press invited. 
 
 
 
Noon:  Lunch and rest. 
 
 
 
2:30 p.m.:  Live radio interview - Radio Estereo 100. 
 
 
 
3:00 p.m.:  Sound check. 
 
 
 
7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.:  CONCERT at Municipal Theater, Xela; as part 
of IGA's Tenth Annual International Jazz Festival; co-sponsored by 
IGA.  Post will make a special invitation to area San Carlos 
University students, workshop participants, and to English Language 
Access Program students. 
 
 
 
RON:  Hotel Bonifaz, Quetzaltenango (Xela) 
 
 
 
Wednesday, March 3: 
 
 
 
8:00 a.m.:  Travel to Guatemala City (4 hours). 
 
 
 
12 noon:  Lunch and hotel check-in. 
 
 
 
2:00-3:30 p.m.:    Jazz workshop with students at the Escuela 
Municipal de Musica (Municipal School of Music; a music school in 
the Capital for low-income youth who cannot afford opportunities 
such as the National Conservatory or private classes).  Press 
invited. 
 
 
 
4:00-5:00 p.m.:  Newspaper and radio (taped) interviews, Guatemala. 
Print interview can also be done ahead of time with material sent 
in advance to meet print deadline for El Periodico's weekly 
magazine Revista "D".  Will include Jorge Sierra's music radio 
program. 
 
 
 
8:00 p.m.:  Informal jam session with local jazz musicians and any 
others available from countries participating in the International 
Jazz Festival.  Location:  TrovaJazz Club. 
 
 
 
 
RON:  Hotel Mercure, Guatemala City. 
 
 
 
Thursday, March 4: 
 
 
 
7:00 am:  Morning TV show, "Mundo por la Manana," Channel 13. 
 
 
 
Mid-morning:  Rest time. 
 
 
 
1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.:  Master Class - "Success in Today's Market": 
Entrepreneurship in music, creating an expanding effect on local as 
well as the global jazz culture, the music business itself and 
other facets of the musician's life.  This is one of Bonilla's 
pre-defined master classes. 
 
 
 
3:30 p.m.:  Sound check. 
 
 
 
8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.:  CONCERT: IGA Dick Smith Theater, Guatemala 
City, as part of Tenth International Jazz Festival, co-sponsored by 
IGA. 
 
 
 
RON:  Hotel Mercure, Guatemala City. 
 
 
 
Friday, March 5: 
 
 
 
8:00 a.m.:  Travel to Coban (4 hours). 
 
 
 
12 noon:  Lunch, hotel check-in, and rest. 
 
 
 
2:00 p.m.:  Radio and TV interviews, taped, Coban. Cable TV evening 
news program with Amilcar Nuila, airs 6-7pm; Radio La Buena. 
 
 
 
3:00 p.m.:  Sound check. 
 
 
 
7:00 p.m.-8:30 pm:  CONCERT at Landivar University Auditorium 
(tentative), as part of IGA Tenth Annual International Jazz 
Festival, co-sponsored by the newly-opened IGA Coban. Will make 
special invitation to 150 youth from Access English Language 
Program, in cooperation with IGA Coban. 
 
 
 
RON:  Hotel Casa Duranta, Coban 
 
 
 
Saturday, March 6 
 
 
 
9:00-10:30 a.m.:  Jazz workshop with youth from Aulas Musicales 
Coban (Musical Classrooms, see above); organized by Education 
Ministry. 
 
 
 
 
12 noon:  Hotel check-out and travel to Guatemala City (4 hours). 
 
 
 
Evening:  Free. 
 
 
 
RON:  Hotel Mercure, Guatemala City. 
 
 
 
Sunday, March 7:  Travel day 
 
 
 
Morning:  Depart Guatemala to U.S. 
 
 
 
END OF PROPOSED SCHEDULE. 
 
 
 
¶5. MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLAN:  Post will send press kits 
(including CDs as available) to traditional print, radio and TV 
media in advance of the artists' arrival, and will work to schedule 
media interviews as outlined above.  Advance announcements, 
including video (with the artists' permission) will be posted on 
Post's website, Post's Facebook page, and Post's Virtual Presence 
Post (VPP) Xela.  Post will also work with Bonilla to develop a 
plan for use of social media, perhaps by connecting musicians here 
with Bonilla's classroom students in New York, via web chat or 
Facebook, to the extent we can match age groups and talent levels, 
and/or by "blogging" (so-to-speak) his experiences and observations 
while here on Post's Facebook page. 
 
 
 
¶6. U.S. AND POST-SPECIFIC GOALS:  This program is in support of 
Mission and State Department Goal of "Enhancing Mutual 
Understanding" through engagement of the general public and of 
marginalized youth via the cultural and artistic language of jazz, 
which has its roots as a unique American art form.  Post has a 
continuing close relationship with our Binational Center (IGA) and 
an ongoing commitment to support it.  U.S. participation in the 
Tenth Annual International Jazz Festival is paramount both as a 
means of cultural support to IGA and for the U.S., the home of 
jazz, to figure prominently among other countries represented in 
the festival.  To date, France, Italy, Brazil, and Mexico are 
confirmed to send musicians; confirmation is pending from Spain and 
Germany (which participated last year), Great Britain, Sweden, 
Chile, Argentina and Colombia.  Guatemala will, of course, be 
represented. 
 
 
 
¶7. POST-SPECIFIC OUTREACH GOALS:  Post established an "Office of 
Outreach" within PAS by obtaining an FSO Outreach Coordinator 
position and hiring an LES native-Mayan K'iche' Outreach Assistant. 
Their mission is to expand outreach efforts beyond Guatemala City 
to target audiences including women, indigenous peoples and youth. 
Circulating this jazz program to Xela and Coban specifically 
fulfills Post's outreach goals.  Mission Outreach staff will 
accompany the musicians to all activities; they will continue to 
promote mutual understanding and will continue to build valuable 
contacts for the Mission outside the Capital. 
 
 
 
¶8. CO-SPONSORS:  Post will work with established partners, such as: 
our bi-national center, the Guatemalan-American Institute (IGA) in 
all three locations - Guatemala City, Xela and Coban; schools and 
universities such as the Miguel Angel Asturias Academy, Landivar 
University, and the San Carlos University; non-governmental 
organizations such as Casa Noj, individual jazz musicians, and 
others.  Post also expects to bring in government organizations 
that work with underprivileged, at-risk-youth such as the Ministry 
of Education and artistic co-sponsors such as the Ministry of 
Culture.  Guatemala's Tourism Ministry INGUAT has offered to 
provide security (in-kind) for musicians while travelling between 
cities.  IGA, as titular sponsor of the Tenth Annual International 
Jazz Festival, will provide the bulk of administrative and 
programmatic support in organizing the festival.  As described in 
 
 
 
the budget below, specific cost-sharing with the U.S. includes 
paying a portion of hotels, covering venue costs, and in-kind 
contributions of overall festival publicity, to include the U.S. 
performers. 
 
 
 
¶9. BUDGET:  The complete proposed line-item budget follows. (Note: 
Post can provide the proposed budget in a spreadsheet by email as 
well.) 
 
 
 
 
-------- 
 
ECA/PAI: 
 
 
 
-- International airfare under Fly America rules:  Performer #1 
Bonilla, Portland-Guatemala-NYC, $908; Performer #2, 
Raleigh-Guatemala-NYC, $908; Performers #3-5, NYC-Guatemala-NYC, 
$740 each, total estimated airfare - $4036. 
 
 
 
-- Airline excess baggage charges, $150 for each trombone, sax, and 
cymbals, total - $450. 
 
 
 
-- Airport exit fees (security taxes), $3 per performer, total - 
$15. 
 
 
 
-- Medical Insurance for five performers at $30, $40, $40, $65, $65 
each varying with age, total - $240. 
 
 
 
-- Performance fees for the Bonilla Quintet:  $200 per day 
honorarium for five performers for eight days (including travel 
days), total - $8000. 
 
 
 
-- Leased vehicle with driver for in-country travel (Embassy Motor 
Pool does not have adequate staff to spare nor large enough van to 
transport people and equipment for proposed three-city program): 
seven days excluding 2/28 initial travel day, total - $1900 
 
 
 
-- Post-generated, targeted publicity specifically for Bonilla 
Quintet and their performances, in addition to IGA's general Jazz 
Festival publicity, (e.g. Bonilla Quintet announcement posters, 
flyers, printed programs, press kits, etc.), total - $700. 
 
 
 
TOTAL ECA:  $15,341 
 
 
 
------------------ 
 
EMBASSY GUATEMALA: 
 
 
 
-- M&IE for five performers for two travel days, 2/28 and 3/7, at 
75 percent of $90 Guatemala City rate, total - $675 
 
 
 
-- M&IE for three full days for five performers at Guatemala City 
rate $90 per day, total - $1350 
 
 
 
-- M&IE for three full days for five performers at Guatemala 
"other" rate of $76 per day, total - $1140 
 
 
 
-- M&IE for three Embassy employees (Outreach Coordinator, Outreach 
Assistant, Electronic Media and AV Specialist) accompanying 
performers to Xela, two travel days (75 percent) and one full day 
at $76 "other" rate, total - $570 
 
 
 
-- M&IE for three Embassy employees (Outreach Coordinator, Outreach 
Assistant, Electronic Media and AV Specialist) accompanying 
performers to Coban, two travel days, 75 percent of $76 "other" 
rate, total - $342 
 
 
 
-- Three-fourths of hotel (cost-shared with IGA, see below) for 
five performers for four nights in Guatemala City at $98 per night, 
including taxes, total - $1470 
 
 
 
-- Hotel for five performers for two nights in Xela, including 
taxes, total - $656 
 
 
 
-- Hotel for five performers for one night in Coban, including 
taxes, total - $191 
 
 
 
-- Hotel for three accompanying Embassy employees, Xela, two 
nights, excluding IVA tax, total - $356 
 
 
 
-- Hotel for three accompanying Embassy employees, Coban, one 
night, excluding IVA tax, total - $216 
 
 
 
-- Musical instrument and sound equipment rental for six program 
days, (drum set, string base, keyboard, two amps, monitor, cables, 
microphones, etc., with pick-up and drop off extended over 
weekends) estimate - $3000. 
 
 
 
-- Motor Pool overtime for airport pick-up for three separate 
arrivals and one drop-off on Sundays, $5 per hour for four hours, 
total - $20 
 
 
 
-- Representational expenses for sodas and/or bottled water at 
various workshops, presentations and concerts, estimate - $500 
 
 
 
TOTAL EMBASSY GUATEMALA:  $10,485 
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
IGA BINATIONAL CENTER CO-SPONSOR COST-SHARING: 
 
 
 
-- Venue rentals:  IGA Guatemala, Dick Smith Theater and workshop 
space (in-kind, $600); Municipal Theater and workshop space, Xela, 
$600; Landivar University Theater, Coban, $200:  Total rental of 
workshop space and theatres for concerts - $1400. 
 
 
 
-- Cost-sharing for hotels: one-fourth of Guatemala City hotel cost 
for musicians, as calculated above, total - $490. 
 
 
 
-- Overall jazz festival publicity, in-kind, estimate - $3000. 
 
 
 
TOTAL IGA:  $4,890 
 
 
 
---------------------------- 
 
ADDITIONAL GOG COST-SHARING: 
 
 
 
-- In-kind contribution for INGUAT (Tourism Ministry) security 
officers to accompany musicians on travel between the Capital and 
interior, arranged by IGA:  dollar amount yet undetermined. 
 
 
 
-- Coordination with Education Ministry's "Aulas Musicales" 
(Musical Classrooms) and potential site for those workshops, 
especially in Coban:  dollar amount yet undetermined. 
 
 
 
TOTAL GOG:  $TBD 
 
 
 
END OF PROPOSED BUDGET. 
 
 
 
¶10.  PLANNED FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES:  Photos, video (with artists' 
permission), articles, links to news articles, etc. will be 
featured on Post's website and on Post's Virtual Presence Post 
(VPP) Xela, as well as on the Embassy's Facebook page.  Tweets will 
be sent when these items are posted to alert our followers on 
Twitter.  With support from Bonilla in developing a social media 
plan, a web chat may be organized as follow-up (see social media 
plan above). 
 
 
 
¶11.  REGIONAL PLANNING:  Post wanted to propose a regional 
itinerary with another post; however, this was not possible due to 
Bonilla's already tight performance agenda with Jazz at Lincoln 
Center, vis-a-vis the timing of the Jazz Festival.  Post felt that 
the opportunity to bring Spanish-speaking performers was critical 
to the success of the program - especially given that even Spanish 
is a second-language for many native Mayan speakers in our outreach 
audience.  Therefore, Bonilla was a great choice for Post. 
Notwithstanding, Post feels that a one-country program in Guatemala 
????- a country of 12 million including a large percentage of 
indigenous and youth - will still effectively meet PAI and Post's 
Outreach goals. 
MCFARLAND