Cesar Villalobos plays the “grandfather” sicu flute with fourth-graders at Durham Elementary School.

Durham school learns of Peruvian life

DURHAM – Peruvian musical educator Cesar Villalobos taught music, dance and culture to Durham Elementary School grades kindergarten through fourth, Nov. 28 and 29.

Students heard Villalobos’ stories of growing up in a small village in the Andes Mountains of Peru, where his favorite pet was his pig.

When his pig grew larger and he was still quite small, he would ride that pig around the countryside.

There was no school in the village, and parents taught their children what they needed to know to survive.

Villalobos and the Quechua people are direct descendants of the Incas. He told the children that they live by three laws: don’t lie, don’t steal and don’t be lazy.

The fourth-graders had two flute music sessions. The third had two sessions of dance and were invited to perform with Villalobos and his Andean music group, Inca Son, at a concert Thursday night.

Students of all ages and their families filled the gym. The flutes harmonized and the dancers danced with traditional steps of planting, harvesting and embracing life.

“This is the best thing I’ve ever seen in my many years here,” commented one older gentleman. “When can they come back?” children asked Sarita Shannon, their Spanish teacher and coordinator of the event.

Sarita said, “Our Spanish program is in its infancy at Durham and we were so pleased to have Inca Son come. They have been performing and educating students young and old for more than 20 years. They’ve performed with the Boston Pops, at the White House and many universities and cultural events all over the world. It was a great experience for our community.”

She has spent many years in Peru in the Amazon Jungle, as well as Mexico and Europe.