With the reading of the proclamation by the Yaiza Choir, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, the festivities in honor of Our Lady of Los Remedios officially began.
The event was held in the assembly hall of the Benito Pérez Armas House of Culture, a venue that is becoming increasingly small for all the people who want to attend the main event of the celebrations. The Yaiza Choir started the event by performing two songs, Si Buenos Aires no fuera así and Un sarao de la Chacona. Subsequently, Nuvi Tavio, its director, was in charge of reading the proclamation in which she highlighted some of the many moments lived during the 25 years.
The Yaiza Choir was created in 1997, at the proposal of the Department of Culture, to bring this type of singing to new generations. Choral singing in Yaiza began in the 1950s with the Choir of the Parish of Our Lady of Los Remedios, which, in that period, accompanied with their voices the various religious celebrations that took place throughout the year, such as Sunday Masses, Holy Week, the festivity of Los Remedios, etc.
Nuvi explained that "for our Choir it has always been a privilege to be able to hold our "Choral Encounters" and the "Christmas Concert" in the church of Yaiza." "And we also want to thank the opportunity that is offered to us every September 8 when, with our songs, we accompany the Mass in honor of Our Lady of Los Remedios".
"This year, in addition, we have expanded our participation as a result of the "First Musical Encounter", which took place in the church of Yaiza, at the initiative of the parish priest Jonathan Almeida, prior to Holy Week, which has been very well received by both the attendees and the participants", continued the director.
She also explained that "singing is part of a universal language that has been practiced by all cultures throughout history and has shaped with its sounds and harmonies the expression of our deepest emotions and experiences. According to neuroscience, through singing we activate areas of our brain that provide us with greater well-being, being considered as a great generator of benefits for our physical and mental health. Its practice in groups is recommended for people of all ages since the interaction of the group, through breathing, melody and the rhythm of the voices, brings us closer to emotions related to joy, optimism and happiness".
She also had words to remember Covid, "our Choir celebrates this year, 25 years of its activity, its silver anniversary of a whole trajectory. This has been a long road, full of happy moments, in which we have been able to adapt to changes and new situations. In March 2020, under the uncertainty of Covid, we had to close the doors of our rehearsal room. But a few weeks later our desire to continue working, learning and meeting (even virtually), was not diminished". "Thus began a new journey for the Choir, our rehearsals were carried out from an online platform and, in this way, we have continued with our activity until today that we have returned again to our beloved rehearsal room.
"On the occasion of these 25 years we want to pay tribute to all the colleagues who have been part of this Vocal Group of Yaiza and in a very special way to those who are no longer with us, during these years we have participated in the different meetings held in Lanzarote by other groups also taking our songs to residences and hospitals at Christmas time to cheer up our elders", added Nuvi.
Nuvi ended the proclamation wishing everyone to enjoy the scheduled events, saying goodbye to this proclamation with some verses that were composed by a member of the Yaiza Parish Choir to the Virgin of Los Remedios.
"Virgin of Los Remedio, Mother Queen of Yaiza
we sing for you with peace and hope.
We come to your side, beloved Virgin.
may your grace be our dwelling.
Your people venerate you, ask you with longing.
guide our steps in our walk.
Pure, beautiful Virgin, Glory of the Lord,
of the garden of heaven, the most beautiful flower.
Your Kingdom is justice, truth and love.
Your kingdom is in us, within the heart.
Virgin of Los Remedios, Mother of the Lord,
of the people of Yaiza, our salvation.
Long live the Virgin of Los Remedios!"
The director was accompanied at the presidential table by the parish priest of Yaiza, Jonathan José Almeida, the mayor of the Yaiza town hall, Óscar Noda and the Councilor for Festivities, Javier Camacho, and in the assembly hall the municipal councilors, the president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, María Dolores Corujo and more civil and military authorities, the act ended with the singing to the Virgin of Los Remedios.