“Concert of Life”: A Gala Uniting Talent, Generosity, and Social Commitment

23 June, 2026

Pianist Marianela Aparicio and guitarist Piraí Vaca captivated the audience, who joined together in solidarity to support the “Santa Cruz” Nursing Home.

The “Concert of Life: Strings of Light, Keys of Hope” was much more than a benefit gala. As José Luis Camacho Miserendino, president of the National Safe Life Foundation, expressed, the evening became an invitation to build a better future together. “It is an opportunity to demonstrate that when a society unites around a noble cause, it can generate real and lasting change,” he stated.

Held in the Gardenia Ballroom of the Los Tajibos Hotel, the recital brought together the extraordinary talent of Cochabamba-born pianist Marianela Aparicio and Santa Cruz-born guitarist Piraí Vaca. Both artists delivered memorable performances that were rewarded with prolonged ovations from the audience. The evening’s objective was to support the work of the “Santa Cruz” Nursing Home, run by the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Aparicio opened his performance by playing the first lines of “Alma Cruceña,” the emblematic waltz composed by Jorge Luna with lyrics by Raúl Otero Reiche. From there, he led the audience on a musical journey that included pieces such as “Niña Camba,” the Brazilian tangos “Odeón” and “Escorregando,” the folk waltz “Gracias a la Vida,” and the carnival song “Jumechi,” evoking the soundscapes of sister regions of South America. Meanwhile, Piraí Vaca captivated the audience from the first chords of Coldplay’s “A Sky Full of Stars.” His repertoire continued with renditions of “Yellow,” “12:34,” and “Human Nature,” a piece in which he made his guitar evoke the sweetness and melancholy of a violin. The performance continued with the unmistakable “James Bond Theme” and concluded with a moving rendition of “Hotel California,” a song that, as the artist himself confessed, has fascinated him since his adolescence.

Among those in attendance were the nuns of the Home, led by Mother Superior María Heredia, whose daily dedication allows them to provide care, affection, and a dignified life to dozens of elderly residents. Also participating in the evening was Monsignor René Leigue, Archbishop of Santa Cruz, who is familiar with the needs of this care center, especially in providing care and support to the sick.

At the end of the concert, Julio César Caballero, director of the National Safe Life Foundation, thanked the artists, the audience, the Ambassadors of Light who constantly respond to the call for solidarity, and the sponsoring companies, Bagó Laboratories and Chávez Pharmacies, whose support made it possible for the music to become a source of hope for those who need it most.