Ajijic musician and composer Victor Manuel Medeles was a fellow of the State Council for Culture and the Arts (CECA) when he was commissioned by the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes (INBA) to create a center for musical education on the banks of Lake Chapala. He founded the non-profit Centro Regional de Estudios Musicales music academy (CREM) in 1990.
The success of Victor Medeles’ work is shown by the many alumni who are professional musicians, some of whom are current members of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra.
His legacy continues under the guidance of his eldest son, Emmanuel Medeles Medina, who has a music degree from the University of Guadalajara and specializes in orchestral and choral conducting.
The teaching faculty consists of nine musicians, all of whom are university music degree graduates or pre-graduates. They are dedicated to CREM, as it gave them the opportunity to become professional musicians, and do it in their free time.
CREM has approximately 60 students ranging from 5 to 20 years of age. Each week, students receive music theory classes, an individual instrument lesson and practice time with the CREM Youth Orchestra, the CREM Youth Choir and other ensembles. CREM performs on various occasions every year, fundraising for its own scholarship program but also often to support charities. It recently gave a concert at La Chupinaya for the Villa Infantil Orphanage in Jocotepec.
Half of CREM students receive financial support for their music studies ranging from partial to full scholarships and are able to borrow an instrument if they cannot afford one.
The academy is a fun and healthy environment for children and teenagers. It offers an alternative activity for young local people. Music keeps them focused and contributes to their education and an appreciation for culture, both of which lead to a healthier society. The classes improve their self-esteem, allow them to build up new friendships and even give them the option to become professional musicians. Regularly, when students reach adolescence they feel the temptation to stop with their music classes to hang out with their friends but staff and volunteers at CREM talk to them and insist upon them staying the course, often successfully.
Recently CREM has been collaborating with the educational program Pathways offering its students the possibility to study music.
This winter concert is special as CREM will be celebrating its 25th anniversary. Alumni from the past quarter century will be invited and first generation students Diego Rojas and Manuel Miramontes, who are now members of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra, will be the two soloists for Mozart´s Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat major for violin, viola and orchestra. Furthermore, the youth orchestra and youth choir will perform carols and other pieces they have been preparing for months.
CREM has made a big contribution to the community for the last 25 years. One of the main aims is to offer young people a fun and healthy way to spend their time. But it also contributes to the culture at lakeside and allows residents to enjoy high quality music. It receives support from Viva la Musica, the Northern Lights Music Festival and the Jalisco Ministry of Culture as well as the dedicated sponsors who grant children and teenagers the opportunity to pursue their musical education.
The CREM concert is on Sunday, December 20, 7 p.m. at the Auditorio de la Ribera. Tickets cost 150 pesos and are available at the Auditorio, Diane Pearl and the Ajijic Cultural Center. For more information on CREM or if you wish to sponsor a student, please call Margrita van der Hoek, at cell 333-496-8976.