SANDPOINT — Most Sandpoint Music Conservatory students can’t speak Spanish, but their imminent trip to Mexicali, Baja California in Mexico will still keep a conversation alive.

It’s a conversation first begun last spring, when Sandpoint students traveled to to the Mexican city to practice and perform with the Red Rio Nuevo Youth Chamber Orchestra. The conversation continued in July when prolific Venezuelan conductor Antonio Malave took some of his Mexicali students to Sandpoint. Now Sandpoint students will strike new notes in the discussion by sharing their musical ideas and talents with the Mexicali youth orchestra once again.

For violinist Sydney McDermott, 14; vocalist Charlene Rawuka, 16; clarinet player Caitlin Buchanan, 16; and viola player Matthew Foster, 14, the trip is a milestone in their burgeoning musical careers. Several of the Sandpoint Music Conservatory students had the opportunity to play with Malave and his orchestra, and in that short time span, they learned a lot.

“Just seeing Antonio’s teaching style was really interesting to me,” Matthew said.

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