2015
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Nov - Initial conception plan to start a charitable organisation to raise funds to buy instruments for schools and youth groups in Chubut region, Patagonia. Sale of Photographic images by Chris Stock, from the BBC NOW tour of Chubut, as part of the Patagonia 150 celebrations - £400 raised.
December - British Council Wales pledge £1000 support, if stringent Charity Commission and Financial requirements are met.
2016
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Charity legally set up with approved financial basis, eBay and PayPal accounts, and social media sites. Appeals made on these, and first instrument donations start to arrive from Wales and across the UK.
A donated Red Violin is sent with Sian Lloyd, (Television Presenter and meteorologist) as a symbol of further intent from Cardiff to Trevelin. Arrived in time for the Annual Historical Ceremonies in Trevelin and was duly presented as part of these celebrations to Arcos Strings - Paz Misurelli). Resolution of Intent passed in the Chubut Legislature, supporting the work of our charity, and offering support.
2017
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Catrin Finch (Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales 2000-2004) accepts the role of charity Patron. Collaboration with University of South Wales to create animations and marketing graphics to be used across all our platforms.
Commercial storage started.
Chairman travels to Buenos Aires (self-funded) for meetings in the British Embassy, British Council, as well as to create links with musical instrument retailers.
Links with Chubut Education ministry set up.
Grant achieved from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation
Nominated as International Charity recipient for the Penarth Christmas tree festival
(Grant - £800)
Meeting with Argentine Embassy in London.
2018
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Documentation of import granted by the Argentine Foreign Ministry in Buenos Aires and Argentine Consulate in London. Welsh Association in Puerto Madryn is confirmed as official importer of our charity goods from Wales.
Shipment of 10 flight cases of instruments, sent with SeaFair (UK) Ltd (Now trading as Envio International) on 7,500 mile trip to Puerto Madryn, Chubut. Includes two pairs of Timpani, the first in Chubut.
Donations are intended for youth groups and schools in Trelew, Puerto Madryn, Rawson, Trevelin, and Gaiman and Dolavon, contacts had been made during BBC NOW tour in 2015.
Chairman travels to Chubut, (self-funded) to meet with Chubut Education ministry, Silvina Garzonio - head of the Welsh Association Puerto Madryn, Kenia Rodriguez, our government music contact, and heads of all the recipient bodies. Official documentation signed.
Shipment instruments distributed across Chubut.
2019
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Grants made to providing consumables (strings, reeds etc) and cover the cost of instrument repairs for groups in Trevelin, Gaiman and Esquel.
Variety of new instruments supplied throughout the year to Youth orchestras in Esquel, Trevelin, Puerto Madryn, Trelew and Gaiman. Includes purchase of Yamaha Digital Piano bought for Gaiman music school, to be used also by the Esiteddfod of the Youth celebrations each year.
Purchase and delivery of Welsh Dancing clogs for traditional Welsh dancing group in Puerto Madryn.
March - Request to purchase a 34 string Teifi Harp from Llandysul, for Gaiman music and bilingual schools. (Target - £1650). Appeal launched in Wales via social media sites. International donations received from as far as New Zealand, Canada, USA and France.
August - Appeal target reached, and Harp purchased. Collected in December.
2020
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Grants made to providing consumables (strings, reeds etc) and cover the cost of instrument repairs for groups in Trevelin, Gaiman and Esquel.
Variety of new instruments supplied throughout the year to Youth orchestras in Esquel, Trevelin, Puerto Madryn, Trelew and Gaiman. Includes purchase of Yamaha Digital Piano bought for Gaiman music school, to be used also by the Esiteddfod of the Youth celebrations each year.
Purchase and delivery of Welsh Dancing clogs for traditional Welsh dancing group in Puerto Madryn.
March - Request to purchase a 34 string Teifi Harp from Llandysul, for Gaiman music and bilingual schools. (Target - £1650). Appeal launched in Wales via social media sites. International donations received from as far as New Zealand, Canada, USA and France.
August - Appeal target reached, and Harp purchased. Collected in December.
2021
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Notification of Forest fires in El Hoyo and the loss of many of the associated loss of instruments by the Orquesta jovenes El Hoyo. Assisted in the coordination of a response from all the music groups across Chubut, and made our largest grant to date, to help purchase lost instruments. This response helped obtain funds and put in place further guarantees of intent to replace all the lost instruments, within three weeks.
Further grants made to fund instrument purchases in Esquel (percussion instruments), Puerto Madryn, (including a Digital Piano for lessons, dance classes and choir training at the Welsh Association), Trelew (1/8 size Double Bass, Clarinets, and spares) and Gaiman (Flute spares and repairs, Trevelin bilingual school (Digital Piano for lessons and school concerts)
Grant made to Coro de Jovenes de Lago Puelo for concert dress and concert music.
Grant made to transport two Acoustic pianos from B.A. to Trevelin for lessons and concert use.
2022
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Grants made to buy 1/8 size double Bass for Arcos Strings - Trevelin, Flutes, Violin and Cello strings for Esquel, another 1/8 size double bass and slide trumpet - El Hoyo, Flutes - Trelew, and Flutes and consumables - Gaiman.
November - Chris Stock, Principal Percussionist of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and Chairman of Patagonia Instrument Project is honored by being awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society and Association of British Orchestras 2022 Orchestra musician of the year, with special reference to his work at Patagonia Instrument Project. The presentation was made by James Murphy, Chief Executive of the Royal Philharmonic Society.
2023
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Purchase and transport of Linton Resin Bassoon to El Hoyo Children's Orchestra. Our first donated Bassoon to any group in Chubut.
Purchase and transport of 7 pairs of Welsh dancing clogs for a new traditional Welsh dance group in Trevelin.
New collaboration with a bilingual school in Trevelin formed to buy 2 keyboards, and mixed collection of school percussion and string instruments.
Collaboration begins to start a new children's orchestra in Epuyen. 3 start-up grants made for initial instrument purchases.
Trevelin - grants made for seating, music stands etc to enable expanded Arcos string group to deliver concerts to the local community and beyond.
New collaboration with Fundación Cooperar in El Bolson, Rio Negro, to purchase its own string instruments. 3 start-up grants made.
2024
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5 Double Basses bought from the proceeds of a family bequest. Differing sizes, but placed right across Argentina in Trevelin, El Hoyo, El Bolson, Trelew, and Puerto Madryn.
Grants made to schools in Gaiman, Trelew and Trevelin to purchase sound systems which will enable school concerts to be amplified where necessary, and open the performance spaces up to other performing groups in the localities.
Grant made to a new school connection in Gaiman to purchase a collection of classroom percussion instruments.
