Mexico doesn’t lack for gifted musicians. Last month, a handful of these young talents were fortunate to spend 11 days in Ajijic, participating in the 15th Northern Lights Festival.
What Mexico does lack, according to these students, are opportunities for musicians. Thus, many of these students will not be able to realize their goals inside Mexico, but will choose to seek a musician’s life in the United States, Canada or Europe.
Gathered together one afternoon on the patio of Tony and Roseanne Wilshere’s home (parents of festival director Chris Wilshere), nine of the students, ranging in age from 12 to 26, expressed their feelings about being at the festival, their musical goals and their frustration in their obtaining support.
Nine of the ten students who came to the Ajijic music festival.
“We don’t need talent in Mexico; there’s plenty of that. We need opportunities,” declared Aaron Sanchez Yerves, a 26-year old pianist from Merida, and one of the ten music students who came to Ajijic meet fellow students, rehearse, perform, partake in individual and group classes, and mingle with top musicians and professors.
According to Sanchez Yerves, opportunities are not always in the place where the musicians are.
“A good school depends more on the teachers than the place. Ajijic is a little village but there are great teachers attending this festival. One teacher is from Guadalajara but he doesn’t teach at a school. Unfortunately, the schools in Mexico where we can study our music don’t have good teachers.”
He continued: “Some of us from Merida tried to get economic support to come here, but none of the institutions gave us money. Only our school gave us a little bit.
“This festival is great. We have much opportunity here and didn’t know that before coming. I want to be a conductor. To see this place is a big motivation to keep going, to know that there are people who play music so much better that us. Sometimes, motivation has little doses of pain. To see that and feel that is what we need.”
Antonio Lopez is a 13-year-old violin student and hails from a musical family in Mexico City. His father is a conductor, his mother is an opera singer, and his 12-year old sister Daila Lopez plays the cello and attends Escuela Superior de Musica in Mexico City – a special school attended by some of the other participants. Both Antonio and Daila were invited to be part of festival for the first time. Said Daila: “I want to be a cellist when I grow up, a soloist.”
Lopez has been studying the violin since the age of four. For three years, he sang in the Vienna Boys Choir. Like the others, he too wants to be a professional musician. “I really like the ambience (in Ajijic), the teachers – and the concerts are great!” As for his future, he said, “I don’t want to stay in Mexico. I’d do better in Europe or elsewhere.” His sister agreed.
Diana Laguna, 25, from Guadalajara, plays the violin and is part of an orchestra in Zapopan. “It’s great being here in Ajijic and taking classes with very good musicians. The experience makes me want to improve.”
During the day, Laguna and the others took master classes in chamber music with the visiting professional instructors, mostly from the United States, Canada and Europe.
Luis Barios, 24, is also from Guadalajara and plays the viola. “This is my fifth year at the festival and every year it gets better.”
Barios had the privilege of taking lessons with a visiting professor from the Royal Academy of Music in London. “He was happy with me and suggested that I apply for a scholarship at the Academy.”
Thrilled about the prospect of studying at such a prestigious school, Barios added, “I still have to audition by sending them a video and am working on a piece of music while here.” (Update: Last week, Luis received the news that he’s been accepted and granted a full, two-year scholarship to the Academy, beginning in September.)
Jessica Rosado, 25, from Merida, has played the violin since the age of ten. She completed her studies at a university in Veracruz, though doesn’t yet have a degree. Spending much of her time studying and playing in two orchestras, she said, “I think Ajijic is a little paradise. In Merida, I work all day, so when I go home I feel too tired to study and I don’t feel inspired because everybody is playing (music) for money. It’s not the same here. The level here in Ajijic is very high. The professors play very well and love to teach, which really matters since teaching is different from playing as a professional. When I watch the musicians play, I feel inspired. Plus, the environment motivates me to study and that’s very important in a student’s life.”