¿Quienes Somos?

On Saturday, March 14, 2026, PROTESTRA will present ¿Quienes Somos? A Celebration of Latin-American Heritage and Culture in Classical Music. The performance will start at 6:30 PM at the First Congregational Church in Montclair, NJ (40 S. Fullerton Ave). Tickets are $25 for general admission and $10 for students.

The idea for this concert was conceptualized by PROTESTRA flutist and concert organizer Juan Carlos Narváez of Elizabeth, NJ. Narváez is spearheading ¿Quienes Somos? as the first installment of a concert series that will bring communities together to effect change for those at the margins of our society. The goal of the concert series will be to raise funds for local organizations that assist, defend, empower, and advocate for change at a local level. 

All proceeds from ¿Quienes Somos? will be donated to Make the Road NJ, an organization that “builds political power rooted in working-class Latinx communities, promotes policy solutions that improve the lives of all working-class and low-income people, and strengthens the movement for justice through electoral and grassroots organizing to advance progressive political and policy change.” This is especially important at a time when immigrants’ rights are being violated and at risk. In the United States, we are seeing massive Immigration Rights violations and violence being committed. As of September 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has taken custody of a record number of detainees going up to 59,762 people and counting, with a vast majority of them having no criminal record or precedents.

This event will serve as a celebration of Latinx culture and heritage and highlight the contributions immigrants and Latinx culture has on art, music, and society, both historically and through newly made compositions and pre-existing works by Latin-American composers. During this concert, works by rising star composers Arturo Rodriguez and Alyssa Mena will be featured through newly commissioned and newly published works. It will also include performances by renowned New Jersey flutist, Carla Auld. 

Between each musical performance, concertgoers will also hear anonymous stories of immigrant experiences, humanizing immigrants and providing the audience with perspective on the state of immigration in the U.S.

“This concert is for anyone who is called to help defend and advocate for the immigrant community. We encourage members of all communities to come together and unite for each other’s defense, whether that is through donations or mobilization.” - Juan Carlos Narváez, concert organizer