The history of Brazilian music has a fundamental chapter in the interior of Sergipe. The Nossa Senhora da Conceição Philharmonic Society, founded in the municipality of Itabaiana, turns 280 years old in 2025 as the oldest active ensemble in the country. The celebration has a calendar of presentations. 
The events are free and take place until the 8th of this month, in Itabaiana and neighboring cities, with performances by symphonic and children’s bands, preparatory and experimental orchestra, guitar groups, quartets, quintets and the large orchestra.
In addition to historical symbolism, the institution carries out heritage and cultural preservation work, with one of the largest musical collections in Brazil, which catalogs around four thousand original scoresin addition to maintaining its own luthiery workshop, for the construction and restoration of string instruments.
According to maestro Valtênio Alves de Souza, vice-president of the philharmonic, it is a challenge to balance tradition and renewal.
“Maintaining a philharmonic means looking back without forgetting to train the next horn player, the next violinist. The entire city passes through here at some point and our commitment is to ensure that this history continues to sound”, he says.
Community bond
As part of the training of new talents, the Nossa Senhora da Conceição Philharmonic is also responsible for important work in the social integration of young people with concert music.
Around 330 children and teenagers aged 7 to 18 participate free of charge in the institution’s musicalization and instrumental practice courses. Part of the activities also takes place in the Carrilho village, with the aim of promoting belonging, coexistence and imagination through music.
“Our role is to ensure that these children can be children, can play with music and discover a world of possibilities”, says Luan Lima, president of the institution. “Art broadens horizons and keeps alive a tradition that is part of Itabaiana’s identity.”
*Intern under the supervision of journalist Tâmara Freire
