Un Sueño Bandoneon
The Bandoneon was originally developed in Germany as an alternative to an organ in churches for remote villages. As Europeans started to immigrate to Argentina, the Italians brought the Bandoneon to Buenos Aires where it found prominence as one of the iconic sounds of Tango.
Historically, Tango as a genre of music has been representative of the urban experience of the city of Buenos Aires, whereas Argentine Folklore (of which there are many genres) has represented the rural experience. As Contemporary Tango evolves, there is an opportunity to expand beyond the city; however there are some economic constraints in its ability to evolve. Notably, given the limited supply of Bandoneons after WWII, these instruments are rare and expensive.
After a viewing of ‘Un Disparo en la Noche’ by Alejandro Diez, there was a Q&A with Julian Peralta that struck a chord with us. In particular, he shared an anecdote related to a scene in the movie, where some musicians were visiting schools outside of Buenos Aires, in the provinces of Argentina. These musicians and Maestros reached out to the government of Argentina to see if government funding might be possible; however they were turned away. In response, we felt compelled to help bridge some of this financial gap through this fundraising project: Un Sueño Bandoneon.
So what are we planning to do?
Guardia Vieja will be hosting two bi-annual fundraisers in Cleveland, Ohio to help raise funds for the repair and/or purchase of Bandoneons to be donated to the youth in the Provinces outside of Buenos Aires. These fundraisers will include:
A private Casa Rajoria House Concert for Un Sueño Bandoneon Patrons,
A public Contemporary Tango and/or Folklore Concert, followed by a Milonga, and
Workshops on Tango as a musical genre and/or Musicality workshops for dancers.
Beyond the expenses of producing the event, all proceeds collected from the Concerts, Milongas, and Workshops, and any sale of merch (Limited Edition T-Shirts, Stickers, Enamel Pins, etc.) will be donated to the Un Sueño Bandoneon fund. The fund will be used to purchase and/or repair bandoneons in Buenos Aires for emerging musicians in the provinces outside of Buenos Aires.
Upcoming Events
Please be sure to check out our Event Production page for the details of upcoming Fundraisers. We will maintain a list of dates below, to make it a bit easier to Save the Date:
October 24-26, 2025: Launch Party featuring Arco y Aire, Heyni Solera and Maxfield Wollam-Fisher’s bandoneon and cello duo.
April 17-19, 2026: Un Sueño Bandoneon fundraiser featuring Emiliano Messiez, a Latin Grammy-nominated composer, pianist, and music director, born in Buenos Aires and based in New York City.
September 11-13, 2026: Un Sueño Bandoneon fundraiser - Featuring Artists TBA.
FAQs
Do I need to be a Tango Dancer or Tango Musician to attend the events?
No, you do not have to be a Tango Dancer or Tango Musician to attend the events. The concert and fundraiser (including the milonga) might be a great way to experience Tango for those who might not yet dance or play the genre. These events are open to all. We will ensure that any workshops are either accessible to all experience levels or that there is an alternative Beginner Track available.
I love this cause and I would like to support, but I am unable to attend the events. How can I support Un Sueño Bandoneon?
Please reach out to our founder, Pooja Kumar (pooja@guardiaviejaatx.com), for more information on how to purchase Merch and/or make a donation directly to the fundraiser.
Can I get a tax-break for purchasing a ticket or donating to the fundraiser?
Although we are working on filing as a 501(c)(3), at this time Un Sueño Bandoneon is an Association and is not eligible to offer any tax incentives.
I have another question that is not answered here. Who should I reach out to?
Please reach out to our founder, Pooja Kumar (pooja@guardiaviejaatx.com).