The new auditorium for the Department of Musical and Sound Arts of the National University of the Arts (UNA) in Buenos Aires receives inauguration.

After a decade since beginning construction, the school’s new auditorium is now open. The venue will host concerts by DAMus institutional ensembles, chair auditions, graduation theses, student and graduate cycles, festivals and other academic and artistic activities.

At the opening ceremony students and teachers alike gave performances. Some highlights include duets by Victor Torres and Carlos Koffman, the UNA Tango Orchestra, under the direction of Ariel Pirotti, and performances by the DAMus Opera Company and Opera and Musical Theater Orchestra. The ceremony was hosted by Nahum Recalde. To close the event, DAMus students and graduates invited the audience to sing the song “Por qué cantamos” (“Why do we sing”) with lyrics by Mario Benedetti and music by Alberto Favero.

Sandra Torlucci, rector of UNA, was present at the event, along with her management team and the deans of the academic units of the University. She is quoted in the official press release by saying, “This is a symbol that when we, in the world of the arts, propose something, we achieve it.” Torlucci was joined by Julio García Cánepa, for whom the space is named after. In his opening speech he said, “Back in 1960, I began my studies at the National Conservatory of Music in its building on Avenida Callao and Las Heras. 64 years have passed and I never imagined that I would experience such a transcendental moment as this one.”