Above: the new National Institution of Music in Haiti

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Haiti has officially opened its newest music school, the “National Institute of Music” in the city of Hinche.

Haiti Culture Minister Josette Darguste was on hand for the opening of the school, which is neighbourhood of Pandiassou.

Above: the new school in Hinche

The 12-room school’s debut is part of a national plan to develop music education in Haiti.

Last year, the country, led by musicians Raoul and Pascale Denis, announced plans to develop a classical music programme in Haiti modeled on Venezuela’s successful El Sistema youth music programme.

Above: Raoul Denis at the opening of the school

The Hinche school is viewed as the centrepiece of the programme, which aims to develop youth music infrastructure in four regions in the country.

“The visible goal is to build a symphonic national youth orchestra,” Denis told Caribbean Journal last year. “But it’s proven that this is good for lowering violence and building up the self-esteem of people — so this is a very good programme for that.”