Dionisio Quilla

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The artistry of Dionisio Quilla has been featured in Natural Health magazine.

Dionisio Quilla was born in Peru's Puno province on October 3, 1942. He handcrafts most traditional Peruvian musical instruments, including percussion such as bombos, drums and tinyas,; string instruments such as charangos and wind instruments like quena and zampoña. Dionisio uses wood and bamboo canes, nylon strings and colorful cotton threads to imbue each instrument with a Cuzco flair.

When he was eight years old, the artisan begin to learn his craft from his father, and started making instruments just for fun. Gradually, his technique began to improve and he became more involved in the elaboration process. As a teenager, Dionisio accompanied his father to sell their instruments to stores and fairs around Cuzco, Ayacucho and Lima.

Quilla describes his work as a way of life, a special motivation, and an activity that has enabled him to provide for his family as well as to educate his six children. Now, four of his children are studying for a university degree and two are studying technical courses.

Thanks to my hard work and my great customers, my children are able to get a higher education, Dionisio says with pride. Three of them want to follow their own careers, while the other three want to help me.

I want you to know that with my musical instruments, you can play Andean and folkloric music, play the music from my land.

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NOVICA was started with a dream to create a better world for artisans, because a better world for artisans is a better world for all.

Along the way, the founders of NOVICA discovered something very important - as artisans around the world succeeded, there was also a visible and profound impact on the communities around them.

Your purchases are that powerful. They directly and indirectly provide for education, help with health care, fund basic needs, support children, preserve disappearing arts, and of course, spread happiness around the world.

The founders of NOVICA had a vision of the future that is not one of mega factories producing cookie cutter products for all to cheaply consume. Instead, a bright future that celebrates artisans who take the time to create an item by hand. A future where time is protected, where stories are told, where unique details are honored. Love, respect, inclusiveness become driving force.

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