Washington, DC – Isabella & Ferdinand Spanish Language Adventures™ is an innovative Spanish language learning program for children in the Washington DC area that seeks to give students both linguistic and cultural fluency – providing them with advantages in our growing bilingual society.  Founded by two accomplished Latina mothers who were looking for high-quality Spanish classes for their own young children, Isabella & Ferdinand Spanish Language Adventures™ has grown into a dedicated team of language teaching professionals who have created a dynamic and effective curriculum - immersing children in high-caliber Spanish, while learning about the art, literature, music and cultural heroes of Spain and Latin America (www.isabellaandferdinand.com).

Produced by the school’s "Pied Piper of Spanish", Isabella & Ferdinand's own award-winning music director and composer from Spain Fran Revert, "Olé & Play!" features 13 fun, original songs about important authors, artists and historical figures from the Spanish-speaking world, including Picasso,  Cervantes, Velazquez, Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Fernando Botero and others, songs which are used every day at this Spanish language academy in Washington, D.C. Upon entering the language program, every student is taught La Canción de Isabel & Fernando (“The Isabella & Ferdinand Song"), a track produced by GRAMMY & Multiple LATIN GRAMMY award winner Andres Castro (music director for Latin superstar Carlos Vives) and sung by Latin Grammy-nominated Colombian vocalist Adriana Lucia. The song details the joys of learning Spanish, reinforces the ability to count to 10 and encourages students to write “like Gabriel García Márquez". 

In addition to the participation of Adriana Lucia, “Olé & Play!” sees several other prominent young talents performing alongside the students of Isabella & Ferdinand.  A certain standout is Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno.  The Guatemalan-born artist won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 2006 and has had songs featured on television shows such as CBS’ "The Ghost Whisperer,” ABC's "Lincoln Heights," MTV's "The Hills" and multiple programs on Nickelodeon. Moreno’s current Emmy nomination honors her composition of the theme song for NBC's "Parks and Recreation".  Multiple songs on the album also feature Carlos Barroso from Madrid – first prize winner at the city’s Teen Pop festival and famed Festival de Benidorm.  In keeping with the celebration of Cervantes Day, the school produced the special feature track "Las Aventuras de Don Quijote" with both Gaby Moreno and Carlos Barroso joining Isabella & Ferdinand students in an ode to the classic novel. Recorded in 9 cities across Latin America, Europe and the United States, each song on the CD represents a different musical genre—merengue, cumbia, flamenco, jazz, pop, etc, celebrating the musical diversity in the Spanish-speaking world.

The release of the CD was celebrated at a festive event at the Hispanic Reading Room of the Library of Congress in honor of Cervantes Day. Artists Gaby Moreno and Carlos Barroso performed songs from the record for parents, children, and community leaders accompanied by a puppet show with Isabella & Ferdinand teachers.  Dr. Georgette Dorn, Chief of the Hispanic Division of the Library of Congress and Jorge Romeu, Political Counselor for Hispanic and Latin American Affairs for the Embassy of Spain made remarks at the highly attended event, emphasizing the importance of the Spanish language across the Americas and the world. Dr. Dorn expressed her enthusiasm for the Isabella & Ferdinand program, adding that these were the youngest Spanish language readers the Hispanic Division had ever hosted, underscoring Isabella & Ferdinand’s focus on exposing its students from a young age to the best of Spanish and Latin American literature, art and culture. “We are delighted to share in this wonderful event with the Isabella & Ferdinand program.” said Dorn, praising the music and show.

“Music is an engaging, highly effective tool for teaching children a foreign language and studies have proved repeatedly that thematic-based learning, where kids are learning about the culture attached to the language at the same time they are mastering their linguistic fundamentals is the best way for them to learn it,” stated Isabella & Ferdinand co-founders Pilar Frank-O’Leary and Alexandra Migoya, further adding that they decided to produce the CD after parents repeatedly asked them for a copy of the songs their children were learning in class. They also thought this was a great way to share their creative teaching approach with more children in the area and across the country. Indeed educators who want to implement the Isabella & Ferdinand curriculum at their school can do so by contacting the directors at info@isabellaandferdinand.com.

The “Olé & Play!” album is now available for purchase on Amazon and iTunes, providing parents and educators nationwide who are looking to further the bilingual interest and ability of their children with an engaging teaching tool. Physical copies of the CD purchased through Amazon or through the program’s website at www.isabellaandferdinand.com come with an illustrated booklet with the lyrics in English and Spanish and an explanation of the cultural meaning of each song.

On Monday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m. the release of “Olé & Play!” will be celebrated at the Centro Cultural Españo (CCE), the cultural arm of the Consulate of Spain in Miami. Gaby Moreno and Carlos Barroso will perform another free concert for families and children. The event is open to the public but RSVP is required. For more information or to attend the Miami event, send an email to: info@isabellaandferdinand.com.  Isabella & Ferdinand will be running a summer program during the month of July at the CCE.

Click here to see the YouTube video of the “Olé & Play!” track, “Las Aventuras de Don Quijote”: Las Aventuras de Don Quijote

For more information on:“Olé & Play! Songs from Isabella & Ferdinand Spanish Language Adventures” please contact John Reilly 212.445.8440 /