State Grid’s star social project in Brazil

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02:53

A utility company is not often associated with classical music. But that's exactly what you'll find when it comes to a Brazilian subsidiary of China's State Grid Corporation, the world's largest utility company.

Since 2011, State Grid Brazil has been sponsoring the "Mare Orchestra of Tomorrow," a musical social project in one of Rio de Janeiro's most violent shantytowns.

This week the orchestra's elite musicians played Mozart at the inauguration of their own first school, located in "Nova Holanda," one of the 16 favelas that are part of the "Mare" complex.

The complex, located in Rio's north zone is home to some 140,000 people and is sadly famous for its almost daily shootouts between rival drug gangs, and between the gangs and the police.

President of State Grid Brazil Holding Cai Hongxian unveiled the school's plaque. He said investment go hand in hand with social change and added that the idea was to "try to help the people in a country that has a bright future."

The school is a dream come true for the orchestra's director Carlos Eduardo Prazeres, who says music can make miracles happen among those living in crime-ridden areas.

"You can be sure that music touches their souls and they are able to escape drugs and violence. They discover that they can dream, that they can be whoever they wish, not just musicians," he said.

The school has a 120-seat theater that will have nine acoustically-adapted classrooms for rehearsals.

According to the company, 3,500 children, from age four to 20, are involved in the project that helps them not just develop musical skills but also focus on their future.

Gabriel Farias, a gifted viola player, said the orchestra gave him a profession. "It changed my life, it brought me friendship, patience to study, better grades and it opened a door. I always wanted to be a musician, but I didn't have an opportunity, which is something the orchestra gave me."

But Juliana Oliveira, a second violist, has other plans. "I want to be a music producer and combine it with teaching, so I can give classes. So, it's not that I want to play violin, but it's related to music."

The school cost more than 600,000 U.S. dollars and was mostly financed by State Grid Brazil which also sponsors the orchestra's operation. New plans include Sunday concerts as a relief from the favela's violence.