Between October 18 and November 1, 2025, the I Latin American Conference of Baroque Violin-Making took place in Bogotá, marking an unprecedented gathering for the early music field in the region. Over the course of two weeks, luthiers from Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia came together to collaboratively build historical instruments, creating a space for high-level training, dialogue, and artisanal production.
Under the guidance of Gabriela Guadalajara, renowned specialist and Baroque luthier, the Conference focused on the construction of an instrumentarium consisting of eight Baroque violins and two Baroque violas. Beyond the material outcome itself, the shared process became the true core of the gathering: the constant exchange of technical knowledge, historical criteria, and aesthetic decisions allowed makers from diverse backgrounds to work within a collaborative, rigorous, and horizontal framework.
The Conference brought together two luthiers from Mexico, one from Brazil, and seven from Colombia, forming a group that reflected both the vitality and the growing interest in historical instrument making throughout Latin America. This regional dialogue revealed both the necessity and the potential of strengthening a Latin American network of Baroque violin-making — one capable of sharing specialized knowledge, contrasting experiences, opening professional channels of exchange, and exploring markets beyond national borders.
The realization of the Conference was made possible through a collective effort of support and solidarity. The project received both in-kind and financial donations, the support of specialized suppliers and luthiers, as well as the backing of Early Music America, which awarded the Academy its Engagement Award 2025 in recognition of the project’s impact on community building and the circulation of knowledge. Equally indispensable was the contribution of Augusto Beltrán and Marly Juliana Torres, who provided the working space in Bogotá and made the logistical dimension of the gathering possible. The generosity of multiple donors from the United States was also crucial, ultimately allowing the reality of the Conference to surpass its original expectations.
The instrumentarium built during the event will become part of the Academy’s collection, significantly expanding access for students and young performers to high-quality Baroque instruments. This gesture not only strengthens educational processes, but also reaffirms a vision of early music as a collective, sustainable practice deeply rooted in local communities and territories.
The First Latin American Conference of Baroque Violin-Making thus stands as a foundational milestone and as the first step toward a connected regional community in which instrument making is understood simultaneously as craft, research, and a shared cultural act.