Amado Espinoza

Bolivian musician creating instruments from recycled materials to preserve indigenous culture

Born in Cochabamba (1978), Espinoza crafts musical instruments from landfill materials like PVC pipes and car parts. His 'Symphony of Scrap' project teaches indigenous Aymara youth to:

• Build traditional sikus (Andean panpipes) using aluminum cans
• Create charangos from oil drums
• Develop waterphone-like devices from glass bottles

Through TEDx talks and workshops in 30+ countries, Espinoza has:

• Revived 15 near-extinct instrument types
• Trained 2,000+ instrument makers
• Diverted 38 tons of waste through musical upcycling

His fusion of Quechua melodies with recycled soundscapes earned UNESCO's 2022 Living Heritage Award, proving environmentalism and cultural preservation can harmonize.