Chamber Music Festival 2008, San Miguel de Allende
The thirtieth annual chamber music festival in San Miguel de Allende was a big hit this year. Ticket sales were up over last year. There were over thirty shows and over half of them were free. Over forty-two international musicians from all over Mexico, the United States and Europe participated and twenty-one young, advanced music students attended the student program.
The International Chamber Music Festival is held every year in San Miguel de Allende from July 31st to August 17th and is the second most important international music festival in Mexico.
This year, audiences were able to appreciate all types of contemporary chamber music from the bold Ahn Trio, the traditional Ying String Quartet and the Miami String Quartet, the very different Synergy Brass and the Mexican musicians such as Cuarteto Carlos Chavez, Quinteto Alientos, and Arveiros Vocal Quartet.
The student program was a tremendous success. The program is for young advanced music students from all over the world. It lasts for two weeks and costs only two thousand pesos (approximately two hundred USD). Included are master classes and workshops taught by the different visiting chamber groups, a chance to give indoor and outdoor concerts, all over San Miguel, and full room and board at a host families house. Former students have gone on to achieve prominence as soloists and members of full ensembles in Mexico and other countries.
For information about next years chamber music festival or the student program go to the official festival website: http://www.chambermusicfestival.com/
