Christopher Wilshere
Christopher Wilshere shines as a prominent figure in Mexico’s classical music community, leaving a lasting impression on the vibrant cultural tapestry of his adopted country. His journey is a testament to passion, dedication, and a commitment to nurturing musical talent. As a distinguished violinist, Christopher has graced stages in Europe, Canada, the United States, and Mexico, and has performed as concertmaster for many well-known Canadian and Mexican orchestras, including the Thunder Bay Symphony, the Ontario Philharmonic, the Jalisco Philharmonic, and the Toronto Concert Orchestra. As a soloist and chamber musician, Christopher has performed alongside notable artists such as Julian Rachlin, Anton Kuerti, the Gryphon Trio, Susan Hopper, Manuel Delaflor, and David Fung, earning critical and audience acclaim.
Christopher’s influence extends deeply into education, where he has become one of Mexico’s most sought-after violin teachers. His students consistently achieve remarkable success, securing scholarships and coveted positions in competitions and youth orchestras nationwide. Notably, his guidance has shaped the concertmaster and principal positions of esteemed youth orchestras, such as OSIM, OSJZ in Zapopan, and the Higinio Ruvalcaba Orchestra in Guadalajara, for over a decade. A seasoned educator, Christopher has shared his expertise through masterclasses and teaching engagements at prestigious institutions, including the University of Toronto, the University of Guadalajara, the University of Kansas, the University of Akron, Ohio, UNAM, and the Ollin Yoliztli Conservatory in Mexico City. Over 15 years of intensive teaching has cultivated a legacy, with many students traveling nationwide, often on a weekly basis, to benefit from his mentorship, and a plethora of now former students who have gone on to build their own well-established violin studios in Guadalajara.
As an entrepreneur and project builder, in 2003, at the age of 24, he founded the Festival de Febrero, which has evolved over two decades into a cornerstone of classical music in Mexico and hosts over 30 international artists annually for two weeks of concerts in the Lake Chapala area. Additionally, in 2013, Christopher was a founding member and a director of PALCCO, a multi-million-dollar entertainment complex in Guadalajara, housing a 2000-seat opera hall, an amphitheater, and a chamber music recital hall. His creation of the Festival del Lago summer academy in 2018, with its focus on education, stands as a testament to his commitment to nurturing young talent. Approximately 60 university students from around the world attend every August, benefiting from financial aid, with many on full scholarships, all sponsored by his other festival, the Festival de Febrero.
The impact of Christopher’s accomplishments resonates not only in his violin playing but in the profound legacy he continues to build, shaping the cultural landscape of Mexico. He holds a degree in Violin Performance from the University of Toronto and was awarded a Governor General’s Award from Michaëlle Jean for his commitment to strengthening relations between Mexico and Canada.
“Christopher is one of Canada’s proudest exports” – Guillermo Rishchynski, Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations.