Voices of memories and joy

What is Canto Diáspora?

Canto Diáspora is a women’s vocal ensemble based in Berlin, directed by me and formed primarily by Latin American women of different origins and generations. For me, it is a space of community, sisterhood, and wellbeing, where music rooted in oral traditions empowers us and nurtures a sense of care—both within the group and for the audience.


Could you explain how Canto Diaspora started, and how it grew from or works alongside your own work as an individual artist?

Canto Diáspora began as a desire to share my knowledge of Latin American traditional songs, many of them rooted in women’s voices and work-song traditions. It started as a series of workshops, supporting women who felt disconnected from their singing voice or believed singing was only for trained musicians.

It has since become a strong complement to my work as an individual artist. Working with non-professional singers opens new perspectives and creates a space for exploration and discovery. For me, there is no contradiction between my solo practice and directing this ensemble—they deeply enrich one another.

How do you find your members, and how does community and networking play into the organization’s work and output?

Most of the ensemble members have joined through word of mouth. It began with women who had seen me perform and approached me with the desire to sing together. As we started performing, more women came forward, expressing a deep need to sing in a community.

This organic, word-of-mouth growth—especially through concerts—has been central to the group. Social networks have helped increase our visibility, particularly beyond Berlin, while locally our work has become known for its uniqueness. There are very few spaces like this: a group of Latin American women singing from joy and community, in a non-hierarchical environment that moves away from the structures of traditional choirs.

Can you walk us through how Canto Diáspora distills or draws on a broad range of influences?

The repertoire of Canto Diáspora is the result of many years of my own research and deep interest in Latin American traditional music. While it doesn’t cover all of Latin America, I have focused on certain regions, which often coincide with the countries our members come from.

Our repertoire spans from Mexico to Argentina, and I am very selective in choosing songs that resonate with the group. It is especially important to include music from the members’ countries of origin, ensuring that everyone feels represented in what we sing.

How have the organization’s performances been greeted by audiences? And how have your performances to date impacted your members?

Canto Diáspora’s performances have been warmly received because we share a collective joy cultivated in our weekly rehearsals, rather than performing solely to entertain. For many members, it is their first time on stage, and being supported by other women has been deeply empowering. Singing and performing here are not exclusive to professionals, and audiences sense this inclusive, shared energy.

What are some of the challenges Canto Diáspora seeks to address in its work?

One of the challenges is sustaining a strong and open community, while keeping the energy that defines us intact as the group grows. Each member has a profound impact on the ensemble—bringing her story, memories, sounds, and a special connection to her roots. It is this unique contribution from every woman that keeps the spirit of Canto Diáspora alive and shapes what the ensemble is today.

What challenges do you face as an organisation, and to what extent do you see these as specific to your mission and location, or representative of wider, art world issues?

As an organization, Canto Diáspora faces logistical challenges. Finding rehearsal spaces, providing and maintaining instruments, securing funding for transportation, and organizing the group are all significant tasks. With around 40 members, some of whom need to balance work and family commitments to participate in concerts, coordinating these practical aspects is a constant challenge.

How do you hope that this grant might help?

This grant could support Canto Diáspora in many ways. It could give me the time to continue researching Latin American women’s traditional music, and help cover rehearsal spaces and instruments. It could also allow us to open up more opportunities for new participants, offering additional workshops and support. The funding could help with transportation, compensate my work as director, and sustain the quality and energy needed to share my knowledge and experience in traditional music with the women in the ensemble.