From the Bandola to Success: Universidad Pedagógica Nacional Student Wins National Award as Best Bandola Player

At the heart of the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional, where passion for teaching and the arts converge, stories of perseverance and achievement bloom. One of them is that of Ronald Chana, a Bachelor of Music student who has just reached a long-awaited milestone: winning the prestigious Diego Estrada Montoya Award for “Best Bandola Player” at the Mono Núñez Festival, Colombia’s most important Andean music event, held in Ginebra, Valle del Cauca.

Ronald’s musical journey began nearly 13 years ago at the Escuela Cultural de Tocancipá. As a child, he discovered the bandola,a distinctive string instrument whose size perfectly suited him at the time, and it quickly became his favorite. That early choice set him on a path filled with national competitions and festivals.

His desire to share his knowledge and love for the instrument is what brought him to the university. “That decision to teach this music to others… was one of the reasons I enrolled in the Bachelor of Music program here,” he explains. His experience at the Pedagógica has exceeded his expectations: “I’ve learned a lot about pedagogy, about how to teach others, and above all about the camaraderie we have with fellow musicians. Being able to share our music within the program has been essential.”

Within the program, Ronald co-founded Oigan a mi trío, an instrumental ensemble with two classmates. Together they set themselves the challenge of competing at the Mono Núñez Festival. This dream was not new. A decade earlier, as a child, Ronald had performed at the same festival with the Estudiantina de Tocancipá. “When I saw there was an award for Best Bandola Player, I thought: ‘I want to win that,’” he recalls. For years he tried with different groups, facing rejections at auditions without the opportunity materializing.
Persistence paid off. Ten years after that first dream, Ronald returned to the Mono Núñez stage, this time representing the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional with his university trio, and triumphed. Winning the Diego Estrada Montoya Award, named in honor of one of the most influential bandola players from the iconic Trío Morales Pino, was a moment of immense joy and pride. “It’s recognition for the journey I’ve taken… to return ten years later to compete again and finally win this award is incredibly moving,” he says proudly.

Ronald leaves an inspiring message for the entire university community, especially for those pursuing artistic dreams: “Never give up. Music, like any calling, requires perseverance, effort, and dedication. We must focus on our own path and on what we truly want. Yes, working in the arts can be difficult, with obstacles like work or finances, but when you stay focused and work hard, you eventually reach your goals.”

His victory at the Mono Núñez Festival is more than a personal accomplishment; it stands as a testament to the talent nurtured in the Bachelor of Music program at the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional, the power of teamwork among peers, and the value of chasing dreams with determination.