The Centro Regional de Estudios Musicales (CREM) is always humming – both literally and figuratively – but this month is even more hectic than usual.
End-of-year assessments and lessons aside, there are also two fund-raising concerts with related rehearsals to organize, for the purchase of a baby grand piano, together with the faculty’s decision-making process for the award of the first annual Stanley Goldberg Scholarship for merit and best consistent progress.
Goldberg was a founding member of Lakeside’s Music Appreciation Society (MAS) in the 1990’s, initially running it almost single-handedly, bringing recognized artists to the area to perform at the Auditorio La Floresta.
Passionate about music, he spared no effort to ensure that fine musical events were available to the community. MAS grew under his ten-year supervision and the mayor of Chapala nominated MAS in special recognition of its cultural contributions to the Lakeside community during 1996. When Goldberg died in 2000, MAS had over 300 season ticket holders.
A memorial fund was set up for talented local music students and when MAS was dissolved, a donation was made to CREM, which will now be officially designated the Stanley Goldberg Scholarship Fund.
CREM supports youth and the community through music, which encourages the friendship, teamwork, solidarity and co-operation learned by participating in the orchestra.
Founded by Composer and Pianist Victor Manuel Medeles in 1990, first teaching choir at his mother’s house in Ajijic, then instruments too, CREM later moved to its own designated rooms at the Auditorio, which quickly became the hub of all its activities.
This venue is a hive of activity on weekdays. There are individual instrument lessons: violin, viola, cello, clarinet, saxophone, guitar, piano and flute; there’s singing, and music theory lessons at three different levels. The children’s orchestra and choir practice and rehearse here, as does the string quartet. CREM Youth Orchestra, comprised of older children, young adults and faculty staff also rehearses at the Auditorio when necessary.
Sitting in the garden listening to the beautiful voices of the children’s choir being conducted by the founder’s son and CREM director, Emmanuel Medeles Medina, accompanied on the piano by gifted student Saúl Ibarra Ramos, I was amazed at the number of other organizations also using the Auditorio, including an adult choir and a host of tiny ballet students in their tutus.
The Medeles family are deeply committed to CREM. Victor Manuel’s daughter Arely teaches cello and her brother Azael is a piano teacher while their mother, Maria Teresa Medina, is an impressive organiser and handles all the administration.
In addition to lessons, CREM students attend didactic performances of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra, plus an annual combined Summer Camp with the Guadalajara Music School – Elevare A.C.
Viva la Musica provides two scholarships for this event which is held at Ajijic’s Hotel Danza del Sol over a seven-day period.
The summer camp runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day, with practice in the morning and orchestra and choir rehearsals after lunch. Attendees reduce their costs by going home each night.
As with all CREM activities, the emphasis of the camp is to have fun and it’s a popular event, culminating with a final performance at the Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara.
In addition to the usual Christmas and summer concerts, this year two additional fundraising events will be held, to facilitate the purchase of the piano from Ibarra Ramos, reported in last week’s edition.
Supporting the theory that mathematics and music are in some way symbiotic, in addition to his exceptional skills on piano and violin, the quiet and unassuming 13-year-old Ramos also gained first place at ONMAPS (Olimpiada Nacional de Matemáticas para Primaria y Secundaria) - State of Jalisco 2013, and first place in the 2014 Maths Olympiad organized by the Preparatoria Chapala.
Ramos will give a fundraising piano recital on Saturday, June 21 at the Centro Cultural Ajijic. Price 80 pesos. He will also participate in another concert on Saturday June 28, 7 p.m. at the same venue. Priced at 100 pesos, it will also feature performances from the choir of CREM, the children’s orchestra and the Victor Manuel Medeles Orchestra. The winner of the first Stanley Goldberg Scholarship will also be announced at this event.
Lakeside youngsters’ level of musical ability and desire to learn is impressive. It only costs 3,600 pesos a year to support a financially challenged young musician for the school year. CREM is always seeking new sponsors to ensure that the musical potential of all interested youngsters is realized. Can you help? Please contact Margrita van der Hoek, cell: 333-496-8976 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
It’s significant that every member of staff, with the exception of two from overseas, is a former student of CREM. Two play with the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra, while others are studying music at the University of Guadalajara. There is absolutely no doubt that the CREM ethos definitely works.