Forte de Copacabana Orchestra heads to Uruguay on Jan 18

Orquestra Forte de Copacabana performs in Uruguay on Jan 18 at Jazz a la Calle, presenting “Afro Jazz Carioca” with 11 young musicians via Hola Rio!.

Orquestra Forte de Copacabana will perform in Uruguay for the first time on January 18, in the city of Mercedes. The appearance is part of Hola Rio!, a program from Rio de Janeiro’s State Secretariat for Culture and Creative Economy focused on taking local music and artistic expressions abroad.

In Uruguay, a group from the orchestra will take the main stage at Festival Jazz a la Calle, widely regarded as one of South America’s leading jazz festivals. Known for its plural lineup and for bringing together local and international artists, the event will feature 11 young musicians from the project.

“Afro Jazz Carioca” closes Brazil’s slot

Titled “Afro Jazz Carioca,” the concert will be conducted by Luiz Potter and will close the participation of Brazilian artists at the festival. The setlist expands the orchestra’s MPB repertoire—featuring references such as Milton Nascimento, Djavan and Tom Jobim—with bossa nova, jazz and samba-jazz, plus African chants that highlight the project’s Afro-Brazilian roots.

“Seeing these young people take an international festival stage reaffirms that investing in culture is investing in talent, belonging and in Rio de Janeiro’s projection to the world,” said orchestra director Márcia Melchior.

Recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of the State of Rio de Janeiro since 2024, the project was created in 2011 by Instituto Rudá. It serves young musicians from vulnerable areas of Rio and has grown into a socio-cultural initiative that combines artistic excellence with social impact, offering ongoing training and professional перспективes for its members.

“When young musicians cross borders to present their art, they carry creative strength with them and return with new references, new dialogues and even more future perspectives. It’s also a privilege for foreign audiences to get to know a bit more of our music,” Márcia Melchior added.

International touring and cultural exchange

This is not the group’s first international experience. Orquestra Forte de Copacabana previously toured China, performing at venues such as Diaoyutai State Guest House, Beijing University and Beijing Technology and Business University. The tour was praised, including by President Xi Jinping.

By joining Hola Rio!, the Jazz a la Calle appearance reinforces music as a tool for cultural exchange. The initiative expands international circulation for artists from Rio de Janeiro and strengthens the state’s musical presence across Latin America.

About the orchestra

Orquestra Forte de Copacabana started with guitars only and now performs in a big band format. The ensemble includes instruments such as clarinet, transverse flute, saxophone, trumpet and trombone, supported by guitar, bass, electric guitar, keyboards, percussion and drums.

The musicians perform a mix of well-known MPB classics and notable Brazilian songs less familiar to mainstream audiences. In 2025, the project expanded, increasing its student body and creating two new groups: Camerata Forte de Copacabana, made up exclusively of young female string players, and Orquestra de Câmara Forte de Copacabana, centered on strings and including instruments such as French horn, oboe, bassoon and drums.

The initiative is led by Instituto Rudá through Brazil’s Rouanet Law (cultural incentive law). It lists CNOOC – PETROLEUM BRASIL as maintainer, with Grupo Shalom and Vale as sponsors, co-sponsorship from Tijoá Energia, and cultural support from Associação de Arte e Cultura RioMont.

Conceived by producer and entrepreneur Márcia Melchior, the orchestra is made up of 28 public-school students aged 13 to 21. Rehearsals take place once a week at Forte de Copacabana, and participants also receive support classes, including English. The orchestra has also partnered with Orquestra Shalom for 12 years.

“The orchestra’s goal is to train young people so they can enter professional orchestras, the Armed Forces’ orchestras, and build a professional path through music. Over the years, many students have moved into music and cultural projects and academia, some even reaching doctoral studies. That is our greatest mission,” said Márcia Melchior.

What is Hola Rio!?

Hola Rio! is a culture internationalization program structured around three pillars. The first is negotiating international agreements and cooperation with governments, institutions, festivals and cultural centers. The second is artist mobility, supporting participation in performances, exhibitions and similar events. The third pillar is the Hola Rio Festival, a showcase that brings artists to international stages as a celebration of the program.

The first edition took place in Madrid, Spain, in 2023. The second went through six Colombian cities in 2024. The third edition runs between late 2025 and early 2026 in cities across Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.

Service

Event: Festival Jazz a la Calle

Date: January 18

City: Mercedes, Uruguay

Show: “Afro Jazz Carioca” (Orquestra Forte de Copacabana)

Official website: http://www.orquestrafortedecopacabana.com.br

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orquestrafortedecopacabana

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@orquestrafortedecopacabana

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Photo: Bill Vianna