Ana María Orduz

Connection and transformation, the power music has on Ana María Orduz

On International Women’s Day, we want to share her story as an artist, teacher and as a musician who has impacted girls and women.

How did you start in music?

I started at four years old when my parents signed me up at the Diego Echavarría Music School in Medellín. I joined the choir, started taking violin lessons, afterwards I also joined the orchestra. Later on, I started taking piano lessons. A few years later, while I was studying at the EAFIT University, I met an American teacher who offered me a scholarship to study in the US for two months. I left and came back 10 years later, because when I was there, the teachers offered me another (scholarship) to finish my degree where I graduated from the University of Memphis. I was awarded with several presidential scholarships for my academic achievements, which not only helped me to expand my possibilities, but to gain confidence and lots of learning.

How would you describe your connection with music?

There are two things that, for me, are very powerful: the ability of transforming and connecting through music. The connection is a very strong force that moves me towards my instrument and my work. I think of myself as someone who has the capacity to bring the best in people. That makes me a good teacher, manager and leader.

How do you describe your experience with academia?

I studied as a classic pianist, a career that had 300 years of prejudices. In the process, I realized that letting go of this would give me powerful freedom and personal growth. I wanted to become a good teacher to be able to widen the perspectives of newcomers in a responsible way. This profession requires very technical training that provides the tools to be free and to find freedom in the process. In order to do this, one has to have great knowledge, sensibility and capability of observing others. This is what gives you the ability to impact individuals and not masses. For me, teaching has always been a kind of trance. When we are passionate, we are prone to that spell. What allows us to get there is commitment, knowledge, feeling that we are good at something and seeing results. This is an incredible amount of emotional boost that if any human receives, it resonates.

Why do you think the participation of women in music is important?

The presence of women in music is important because we have a sense of unity, of sheltering others, of providing safety. This has been something that has strengthened me as an artist, and I believe this is the case for many other women. I think some aesthetics have been hesitant to that concept, especially in music genres that require a change in which the female figure can often be seen as a contradiction for society.

In your experience, have you ever faced an obstacle related to gender equality?

I would say I’m very lucky because I’ve never been in a situation where my gender overshadowed my accomplishments. There are some setbacks though, such as in business matters, where the male voice plays a stronger role than one would like. These scenarios and dynamics would not occur if it were a man-man relationship.

What advice would you give to other women?

To believe. Believe that whenever they look up and see a male figure on top, they picture themselves up there instead. Expressing our deepest imaginations and having the capacity of replacing those big figures is not common in girls. This has to be changed by creating spaces of power where they can have impactful and strong voices. The other aspect is providing the fundamental tools.

Share a message with the next generation

The most important message I have is to be aware of our capacity, observe your peers and own the power of unity. This can be achieved through our participation in society, embracing our natural talents and connecting with them. Believe that we can have an artistic voice filled with great power.