In the heart of Asunción, located in the Los Laureles neighbourhood, exists Fundación ProMúsica. A sanctuary where music is not merely performed, but cherished as a living memory, safeguarded like a fragile treasure, and shared as a gift of hope. This sanctuary is the Fundación ProMúsica – a non-profit organisation devoted to breathing life into Paraguay’s melodies and ensuring that the soul of the nation continues to sing.
A dream born of a song
The story begins with Cristina Vera Díaz, a young soprano whose voice was filled with passion and whose spirit was driven by purpose. In the early 1990s, at only 21 years old, she left Paraguay with a scholarship to study in Switzerland, having already won a distinguished singing competition in Buenos Aires. Far from home, she first encountered the name of José Asunción Flores, the visionary who created the Guarania. It was then that she realised something heartbreaking: much of Paraguay’s musical heritage was unknown, silenced beyond the country’s borders.
That discovery struck a chord deep within her. A seed of longing grew into a vision – a place where musicians, whether children from distant villages or professionals on the world stage, could come together. A space to research, to share, to preserve, and to celebrate the music born of Paraguay’s land, infused with the universal spirit of humanity.
Guided by this conviction, Cristina gave birth to the 1st International Competition of Symphonic Guarania in 1998. Just one year later, by Executive Decree No. 3769, the Fundación ProMúsica was formally recognised. Its guiding motto remains a vow:
“Rescatar, restaurar, recopilar, editar y difundir los valores musicales de nuestro Patrimonio Cultural Nacional.”(To rescue, restore, collect, edit and disseminate the musical values of our National Cultural Heritage.)
The heartbeat of the mission
Fundación ProMúsica carries a belief as powerful as it is simple: music is identity. It is memory. It is culture. It is the invisible thread that binds generations together, carrying love, resilience, celebration, and longing within every note.
Their work is both tireless and tender, driven by a deep commitment to preserving Paraguay’s musical soul. They dedicate themselves to rescuing forgotten scores from dusty archives, giving them the chance to be heard and loved once more. Each manuscript brought back to life carries with it a piece of history that might otherwise have been lost.
Beyond rescuing, they also restore the dignity of works that have long remained silent, allowing them to breathe again on concert stages where audiences can rediscover their beauty. This act of restoration is not merely technical but profoundly emotional, reconnecting the present with voices of the past.
The nurturing of talent
At the heart of their mission lies the nurturing of talent. From children in remote schools to promising young professionals who dream of a life in music, Fundación ProMúsica creates opportunities for growth, ensuring that passion and potential are never stifled by circumstance.
Their efforts also focus on opening doors to the world. Through concerts, festivals, and competitions, Paraguayan musicians are given the chance to step beyond borders and share their art with global audiences.
Scholarships, instruments, and training are offered to those who could never afford them on their own, turning what might have remained only a dream into a tangible reality. They build bridges of cultural exchange, ensuring that Paraguay’s music resonates far beyond its own soil. By connecting with international communities, they prove that the country’s melodies have the power to inspire, move, and unite people everywhere.
Music as an act of love
Each rehearsal, each carefully restored manuscript, each trembling first note on a stage is more than an act of performance. It is an act of remembrance. An act of love. Without this mission, countless songs of Paraguay would fade into silence, and countless young voices would never be heard.
Paraguay’s melodies not only rest on the work of preservation but are carried forward by incredible contemporary voices. One such artist is Bárbara Cáceres, whose musical journey stretches from the warm streets of Asunción to the Greek island of Kos. Her songs are woven with layers of emotion, love, healing and protest.
Fundación ProMúsica highlights these very artists, those who not only honour the rich legacy of Paraguay’s musical heritage, but also expand its horizons.
How you can help keeping the music alive
Music survives only when we choose to care for it, and Fundación ProMúsica invites everyone to stand with them in this mission. A donation can restore a rare manuscript, fund a scholarship, or place an instrument in the hands of a child whose future may be transformed.
By sharing their story, you help spread awareness so that Paraguay’s cultural heritage finds more protectors. Partnerships are also vital, whether by supporting an event, sponsoring a cultural exchange, or funding a new project that ensures this legacy continues to flourish.
Volunteering your time, skills, or creativity is another way to make a lasting difference, as every act of generosity helps to keep the music alive. For in truth, a song only truly dies when it is forgotten – and Fundación ProMúsica exists to make certain that day never comes.
For donations and further information contact Fundación ProMúsica by email or check the Fundación ProMúsica website.
