The Nestor Torres Foundation is born out of my desire to contribute and collaborate towards the development of a Culture Of Peace through music and the arts, as well as dialogues and cultural exchanges, and by creating environments and opportunities that support the creation and development of healthy families, which in turn are able to nurture and raise strong, capable young people. These are the youth who, by developing a strong sense of mission and responsibility, can then become the driving force for a fundamental change in the way we approach Peace and Conflict Resolution.

Download here May 2nd 2009, Foundation Press Release

My personal vision towards the development of a Culture Of Peace is based on “The One Desire” and my “Four Passions”:

The One Desire

This is a passage from the “Expedient Means” (2nd) chapter of The Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha’s foremost teaching. In other words, how can we support and encourage each person to manifest their highest, fullest potential, and in so doing, to become absolutely happy?

The Four Passions

1. Peace and conflict resolution
2. Youthful Leadership and Development
3. Familiy / Couple’s relationships
4. Music & Arts

Some of my earliest childhood memories continue to define who I am today. One is the unhappiness and turmoil in my elder’s marriages and family relationships. The second one is the sense of contempt and disregard I felt from adults towards children. Thirdly, the sense of fear and uncertainty everyone felt during the height of Vietnam and the cold war. Last, but not least, I remember playing drums (later flute) and making music with my father and my cousins, and how listening and dancing and singing to it brought everyone together, and how reading and watching movies and novellas gave us all a sense of connection, of commonality, of oneness.
Throughout my life, I have experienced again and again, as in Variations in the 4 Themes, the constancy and universality of these habits and tendencies. Now at last, through the Nestor Torres Foundation, I am ready to bring it all together- my talent, my experience and relationships- in order to fulfill my mission, and repay the debt of gratitude I owe to All That Is.

I invite you to join me in this exciting quest, and welcome your suggestions and ideas.

Nestor Torres Foundation

Mission Statement

Goals and Objectives

The Foundation will focus on four “passions” or main points of interest:

1. Peace and conflict resolution
2. Youth empowerment through music, music education and the Arts
3. Personal/ Romantic relationships
4. Music and Arts Production, Preservation and Development

Premise: The Foundation’s mission is based on the conviction that, while these issues usually are and can be addressed successfully as separate subjects, by dealing with them in a holistic and interdependent manner, it is possible to build a solid foundation upon which a lasting Culture of Peace can develop. For example:

Romantic Relationship > Child/Youth >Family > Community/Society (Conflictive or Harmonious), which finds Expression and Communicates through > Music & the Arts

1) Peace & Conflict Resolution

• Create, support and participate in programs and events that promote dialogue and conflict resolution towards the development of a Culture of Peace at every level: family, community, nationally and internationally.

2) Music Education & Youth Empowerment

• Support Music education in Schools and diverse communities
• Motivate, train and empower young people by creating events and programs that tap into, foster and develop their leadership skills through music and the arts, as well as supporting and collaborating with organizations that work with and for youth at risk, gifted kids and music education.
• Collaborate with and create programs that train and coach children and young people in social skills, and financial awareness and responsibility

3) Personal Relationships

• Develop, create and present materials, seminars, events and campaigns to foster a fundamental understanding of the true nature of personal/ romantic relationships. These programs are to be aimed at young people as well as adults.

4) Music and Arts Production, Preservation and Development

• Production and development of projects and events that revive and preserve little known but important styles of music and arts, while exposing them to young audiences at the same time.
• Development of projects, seminars and products that promote and encourage self-sustaining arts programs and artists
• Production and development on self-sustaining, empowering and value creating entertainment.
• Development and implementation of Young Artist’s training programs in performance, production, and music business management and development.

Towards these goals, the Foundation will seek to collaborate with and support organizations already working towards the common goals of education, youth training and empowering, Music and Arts preservation and development, and Peace and Conflict Resolution, collectively as well as individually.

For questions, suggestions, or to find out more, please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it