Two Practitioners.
One Platform.
Bridges for Dialogue brings together the complementary work of Vilma Esquivel and Patricia Vlieg — two Panamanian practitioners whose shared path spans concerts, residencies, institutional partnerships, cultural diplomacy, and academic research. Both hold MA degrees in International Relations and Peace Studies from Soka University, Tokyo.
Executive Director · Cultural Strategist · Music Therapist
Vilma Esquivel
15+ Years UN System · MA Soka University, Tokyo
Interdisciplinary researcher and practitioner at the intersection of music, peacebuilding, and conflict transformation. Founding president of the Panamanian Music Therapy Association and founder of InHarmony Academy. With over three decades of experience across UNDP, UNICEF, and the Spotlight Initiative, she leverages arts-based approaches for social transformation. In 2026, she joined the Peace Boat as a guest lecturer, facilitating embodied sessions and performances that explore music as a practice of dialogue in motion.
Research & Frameworks →
Artistic Director · Performer · Researcher
Patricia Vlieg
Berklee College of Music · Quincy Jones Award · MA Soka University
Internationally acclaimed Panamanian singer, pianist, guitarist, composer, arranger, and poet. Berklee College of Music graduate and Quincy Jones Award recipient. Her discography includes A una Cantora, a celebrated tribute to Mercedes Sosa, and Cabanga, also released in Japan. Building sustained cultural bridges between Panama and Japan since 2011, recognized by the Japanese Embassy for her contributions to cultural diplomacy. In 2026, she joined the Peace Boat as a guest lecturer, leading lecture-performances that position songs as pathways for dialogue across cultures.
Performances →
