[1] Batuta was created in 1991 by the national government of president César Gaviria as a special project of the first lady Ana Milena Muñoz Gómez with assistance of José Antonio Abreu.

[2] Its objective has been to reach the most vulnerable areas and it is especially focussed on communities that have been victims of the Colombian conflict including people forcibly displaced by the violence.

"[3] Helena Barreto Reyes, executive director of Filarmónica Joven de Colombia, said that "With Batuta, music is seen as a strong tool for social development and healing.

[1] The orchestra toured Europe in 2017, making its debut at Young Euro Classic and again in 2019, under the baton of Andrés Orozco-Estrada;[12][13] they have also played in Miami, Houston and São Paulo.

[14] In December 2020 they performed a joint concert with the band Morat and in 2021 will be playing Das Rheingold with the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia again under Andrés Orozco-Estrada.

[8] According to research carried out by the Regional Center for Coffee and Business Studies in 2008, children who participated in this programme felt that it taught them values of coexistence, produced happiness and expand their support and social networks.