Alberto Sánchez

Musician, cultural manager, and community leader with over 30 years of experience in promoting the arts, music, and social inclusion. Founder and General Director of San Francisco Cultural, he has designed and executed projects that integrate vulnerable communities, people with disabilities, students, and families, creating networks of cooperation between government entities, educational institutions, and international organizations.

In 2024, he was awarded the Cultural Management Prize by IDECUT in the department of Cundinamarca (Colombia), achieving the highest score among 400 participants, highlighting his commitment and excellence in directing high-impact cultural projects. His work as director of Encanto Conjunto de Campanas, an innovative initiative that uses handbells to develop musical skills, has brought the cultural richness of Colombia to national and international stages.

Under his leadership, San Francisco Cultural has been a reference in cultural exchanges, bringing Colombian music to countries such as Mexico, Hungary, Germany, Cuba, and the Czech Republic, among others. His work with people with disabilities has been particularly noteworthy, using music as a tool for cognitive, emotional, and social development.

Awards and Recognitions

2024

  • Winner of the Departmental Award “Recognition for Cultural Management” granted by the Corazonarte Departmental Incentive Plan of IDECUT (Institute of Culture of Cundinamarca – Colombia).

  • Winner with his group Encanto Conjunto de Campanas of the grant “Scholarship to support the international circulation of artists and/or musical groups” from IDECUT with the project “Encanto Conjunto de Campanas Tour in Germany.”

  • Winner with his group Encanto Conjunto de Campanas of the “International Tours Circulation Scholarship” from IDARTES (District Institute of the Arts of Bogotá) for his project “Encanto Conjunto de Campanas Tour in Germany.”

  • Winner of the “Artistic Training Scholarship” from the Ministry of Arts, Cultures, and Knowledge of Colombia as Director of the “XI International Artistic Festival” project.

  • Winner of the Goethe Institute grant as co-author of the project “Encanto Conjunto de Campanas Tour in Germany.”

2023

  • Winner of the recognition for his career as a cultural manager and outstanding musical work at the local, departmental, national, and international levels, awarded by the Municipal Government of Tabio and the Municipal Institute of Culture “Joaquín Piñeros Corpas” in the Night of Cultural Excellence.

  • Winner of the project “Bells that Ring for Peace,” with Encanto Conjunto de Campanas, within the framework of the program “Celebrate Music” of the Ministry of Arts, Cultures, and Knowledge of Colombia.

  • Winner of the “2023 Philharmonic Culture Scholarship” from IDARTES Bogotá with the project “Awakening Sensations with Handbells” for people with disabilities.

  • Winner with his group Encanto Conjunto de Campanas of the “International Circulation Scholarship” from the Ministry of Arts, Cultures, and Knowledge of Colombia for his project “Colombia-Hungary Cultural Exchange.”

  • Winner of the “Virtual Material Development Scholarship” as co-author of the project for the creation of virtual pedagogical material for beginners in bells titled: BASIC HANDBELL AND HANDCHIME TECHNIQUES FOR BEGINNING ENSEMBLES.

2021

  • Winner of the “Virtual Handbell Concerts” grant from the National Stimulus Plan of the Ministry of Culture.

  • Winner of the IBERMÚSICAS Ibero-American Music Promotion Program call with the project “Colombia – Cuba Choral Exchange.”

2019

  • Winner of the recognition for strengthening social inclusion through culture for people with disabilities with the project “Cultural Activities and Musical Training for People with Disabilities: An Effective Strategy for Social Inclusion” from the Ministry of Culture.

2018

  • Winner of the recognition for his contributions as a cultural manager to the municipality of Tabio and the department of Cundinamarca by the Municipal Council of Tabio.

2017 – 2016

  • Honorable mention from the Tabio Municipality for his support in the III and IV Student Art Festivals.

2016

  • Special mention for his participation in the XXIV Choir Meeting of the Municipality of Girardot.

  • Special recognition from the Municipal Government of Tabio and the Municipal Institute of Culture “Joaquín Piñeros Corpas” for his cultural work with the organization of the III Student Art Festival.

2012

  • Winner of the recognition for his outstanding participation in the 7th Coralcún and Puerto Morelos Mexico.

2011

  • Honorable mention from the Rural Departmental Educational Institution Bojacá of the municipality of Chía for his support as coordinator of the rural program of the Chía House of Culture.

2002

  • Recognition for his participation in the V Christmas Concert in the municipality of Tabio by the Municipal Institute of Culture “Joaquín Piñeros Corpas.”

2001

  • Recognition for his participation, effort, and leadership in the first regional festival of peasant music and dance organized by ASOCENTRO.

View full CV here