History

1983
The Spaniard Padre Ángel Torrellas and Hermana Margarita Navarro open the "Centro Cultural" in the barrio Batahola Norte in Managua, and found a choir for juveniles and adults.

1991

1993

Dorothy Barnhouse becomes acquainted with the "Centro Cultural de Batahola". Together they start to train flute-teachers and establish like that the project "Música en los Barrios" (MelB).

In the same year the German, Luise Scherf, integrates music workshops for elementary school-teachers in the program.

1995
The most advanced pupils are building the first MelB recorder-ensemble.

1997
"Flautando Köln", a German flute quartet, comes the first time to Nicaragua teaching the flute-teachers modern flute techniques and pedagogical methods. Since 1997 they come regularly to Managua.

1998
The Swiss Urs Leonhardt Steiner, conductor of the orchestra Sinfonietta of San Francisco and composer, trains the MelB-teachers in conduction of orchestras and music theory. Since then he comes every year to continue the teacher´s education.

2000

Since this year the German organization "Pan y Arte" is the main sponsor of MelB.

The teachers found their own ensemble, the "Orquesta de flautas dulces" (recorders orchestra).

2002
Another ensemble arises .Aside from the "Ensemble Mayor" exists now the "Ensemble Junior".

2003
For the first time a European volunteer works for one year in MelB.

2005
MelB becomes a national project . With the support of the Swiss organization "Cooperación suiza para el Desarollo“ (COSUDE) MelB can give classes in the departments of Matagalpa, Estelí, Jinotega and Rivas.

For the first time the 3 MelB ensembles play in the "IV Temporada de Música clásica" (4rth week of classical music) in the Teatro Nacional "Rubén Darío" in Managua.

In September , MelB gets his own office in the extension of the Biblioteca Alemana - Nicaragüense in Linda Vista, Managua.

2006
Since January MelB is part of "Casa de los tres Mundos" (Arts Centre in Granada)