U.S. Orchestra Makes Historical Visit To Cuba

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Minnesota Orchestra is in Havana not just to make music, but to share music with Cubans who are seeing an American orchestra in person for the first time.

The visiting Americans are sharing what they know with young Cuban musicians, like the students at Cuba's Higher Institute of Arts in Havana.

"The students were so prepared, so passionate about their performances and what they were doing. We were inspired just listening to them play. It was an incredible once in a lifetime experience and I hope to have many more like it," said Charles Lazarus, who plays the trumpet for the Minnesota Orchestra.

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Orchestra members are also stopping in at high schools where they're checking out the local talent. And since they're in Cuba, they tried their hand at classical music with a Latin beat.

"It's great honor for us to be the first North American major orchestra visiting here and we are like artists ambassadors of art," said Minnesota Orchestra Musical Director Osmo Vanska. "We are ambassadors of Minnesota, ambassadors of the U.S. and that's a great honor for us."

A young Cuban trombone player made quite an impression on orchestra members, including members of the horn section, getting a round of applause after a short solo.

"The thing that struck me is that they want to learn they want to play for us. They're not shy and they want to hear what we have to say and they want to hear us play," said Lazarus.