Rio orchestra thrives with help from Chinese firm

For Amanda Magalhaes Soares Rodrigues, the second child of a postman and a cleaner living in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, classical music was practically nonexistent until she changed schools for more affordable tuition fees at age 15.

Her new school was located near the Rio neighborhood of Mare, where many poor children tend to skip classes and risk gang-related violence. To her surprise, the teenager found an orchestra project involving thousands of students from more than 20 schools in Mare.

"I have been a member of the orchestra since 2014," said Rodrigues, now 25, principal cellist with Mare do Amanha Orchestra, or Mare Orchestra of Tomorrow. She also teaches cello in a school in Mare to students ages 6 to 10.