Havana, Cuba - The 19th International Cubadisco music festival opens its doors today in Havana to academic events and concerts by musicians from different countries of the world, including the Minnesota Symphonic Orchestra.

The festival, which runs till May 24, is dedicated to symphonic and choral music and to Russia, which is the guest country.

A concert by the Minnesota Symphonic Orchestra, with the participation of outstanding Cuban pianist Frank Fernandez and the Cuban National and Vocal choirs will open the most important music festival in Cuba tonight at the centrally located National Theater.

The US orchestra did not only come here to launch concerts, since its members have held workshops at local music schools and have exchanged with musicians and students.

The event´s agenda also includes an international forum on May 18 in which music professionals will share views on symphonic and choral music in Cuba in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as on the challenges posed by modern technologies in the current century.

Some of the concerts at the festival will be launched by the Minnesota Symphonic Orchestra, Russian singer Armine Sarkisian, Trinidad-tobago´s  Steell Band, Chilean musicians Osvaldo Torres and Sivia Balducci and other outstanding Cuban figures and bands.