Ever since its inception in 2003 Festival de Febrero has made its top priority in helping to educate, foster, and inspire the large and growing number of music students in Mexico.
Our festival has contributed hundreds of thousands of pesos over the years through scholarships, competitions, and auditions. FDF has invited an abundance of guest artists to the region and has taken a leading role in the development of the music community in Ajijic, Chapala, and Guadalajara. (Many of its alumni have won jobs at the Jalisco Philharmonic and other professional orchestras across Mexico).
However, the Festival is more than just donations. During the two-week Festival in February, we provide over 100 hours of free private instruction. Over the years the Festival has also given numerous master classes and workshops at the University of Guadalajara, a contribution which shall be significantly expanded in 2019.
The Artistic Director of Festival de Febrero, Christopher Wilshere, is also the director of the music conservatory at PALCCO – Mexico’s most advanced, modern and exciting artistic complex – a great opportunity for collaboration! The Festival plans to continue its ongoing commitment to contributing a luthier (string instrument technician) every year to repair and adjust all the student’s instruments at no charge.