MIAMI MUSIC PROJECT PREPARES ALL-STAR CONCERT FEATURING GRAMMY NOMINATED SIMONE TORRES, UNIVISION MULTIMEDIA TALENT VICKY VAN EERDEWIJK, AND TRAVEL TV PERSONALITY AUGUSTO VALVERDE
Miami Music Project proudly announces “unCLASSICAL: Miami Vibes,” a cultural event celebrating Miami life and diverse culture on Friday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m. at the iconic Miami Beach Bandshell, located at 7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141. This year, the Miami Music Project has upscaled its celebrity collaborations, featuring Grammy-nominated artist Simone Torres and award-winning media personalities Vicky van Eerdewijk and Augusto Valverde as Masters of Ceremony. The concert aims to welcome the public to celebrate the Miami community at large, as well as push the boundaries of Miami Music Project children’s imaginaries, boosting their sense of belonging and potential for achievement. In the words of President Anna Klimala:
“The Miami Music Project carefully curates concert venues that help Miami’s youth feel they can achieve their dreams. The Miami Beach Bandshell, in particular, is an iconic landmark and a crucial piece of Miami’s social infrastructure. Reaching that stage resignifies Miami youth’s bond to its culture since they are no longer just born into it but also aware that they can contribute to it and shape it actively. The additional exposure to renowned artists and media professionals shows students what happens when a young promise becomes fulfilled.”
Simone Torres is a Diamond, Latin Grammy-nominated engineer, vocal producer, and artist from New York. She has worked with artists such as Becky G, Chlöe Bailey, Normani, Anitta, Cardi B, Camila Cabello, Monsta X, Jessie J, Billy Porter, The Backstreet Boys, Dua Lipa, and more. Some of her most notable vocal productions include Becky G’s “Coming Your Way” and “La Nena,” Normani’s “Motivation,” and Engineering Cardi B’s “I Like It” and “Be Careful.” In 2023, she was honored by the Latin Recording Academy as one of their Leading Ladies of Entertainment. This year marks Simone’s debut as a solo artist, premiering her first single, “Bent,” in February. Her music is a blend of Soul and Rnb, among other influences.
Venezuelan composer, cuatro, and guitar player Hector Molina is known for his participation in the “C4 Trío” (2005) along with Jorge Glem, Edward Ramirez, and Rodner Padilla. With C4 Trío, he has recorded six albums and a DVD. He has been nominated five times for the Latin Grammys and has won two: in 2014 as “Best Recording Engineering for an Album” for the album “De Repente” and in 2019 as “Best Folkloric Album” for “Tiempo al Tiempo.” Also, with “C4 Trío,” he has been nominated twice for the Grammy Awards, in 2018 with the album “Pa Fuera” and in 2020 with “Tiempo al Tiempo.” With “C4 Trío,” he maintains an intense concert schedule in the most important theaters and festivals in North, Central, South America, and Europe. In 2018, Héctor released his first solo album called “Giros,” in collaboration with some of the most renowned Venezuelan musicians and where he showcased more of his role as a composer.
Vicky Van Eerdewijk, an on-air talent for Univision, co-hosts the morning radio show El Flow in Miami, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Phoenix, and San Franciso and, in the evenings, reports for the network show Primer Impacto. She also conducts artist interviews, presents Uforia live concerts, and covers Univision’s top award shows and red carpets.
Born in Miami, Augusto Valverde is an actor, executive producer, and creator of the Travel TV Show Global Child: Travel & Purpose, aired on Peacock, VIZIO, and 15 other platforms, including major airlines worldwide. He founded SWAY Magazine and served as its chief editor. He also worked as an event promoter for Telemundo. He hosted “La Tijera” on Telefutura. As an actor, Augusto received training in California under Howard Fine, practicing improv at the renowned Groundlings. He holds a certificate in Feature Film writing from UCLA.
Soleil River Nation is a 10-year-old student at the Miami Music Project, studying trumpet at Liberty City. Originally from Manila, Philippines, she has resided in Miami Beach, FL, since 2022. In 2023, Soleil River Nation earned the Miami Music Project “Student of the Year” award. In 2024, Soleil initiated her solo career as a child vocalist, releasing her debut single, “Small Girl in a Big World.”
The Little Havana Chapter Prelude Students and Leaders’ Orchestra will perform arrangements of works by Simone Torres, Maluma, Juanes, Juan Luis Guerra, Marc Anthony, Kool & the Gang, and others at the concert. Young performers will be joined by guest artists Simone Torres and Héctor Molina, and the Rhythm Band composed of Ronald Guerra, Mario Criales, Miguel Pagua, Miguel Barreto, and Edival Daniz, under musical conductor Liber Cuervos. The concert is open to the public and free of charge.
About Miami Music Project
Miami Music Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that uses music as an instrument for social transformation, empowering children to acquire values and achieve their full potential, positively affecting their society through the study and performance of music. Miami Music Project’s vision is to create opportunity and access through music for those most in need, improve the quality of life for children today, and ultimately transform their lives, the lives of their families, and their communities. Emerging as a model for music education programs nationally, Miami Music Project offers free-of-charge, after-school programming to all students with no barriers to entry, regardless of race or economic status. As of today, the Miami Music Project has reached over 30,000 children and youth across Miami-Dade County, becoming one of the largest socially transformative music initiatives in the US. Miami Music Project’s programming is inspired by the El Sistema phenomenon – a new model for social change and a visionary global movement that transforms the lives of children through music.
