Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco – Puerto Vallarta’s music scene is about to hit a high note beyond the Pacific coast. Thirty young musicians from the Puerto Vallarta AC School Orchestra will represent the city at the Third Santiago de Querétaro Chamber Orchestra Festival 2025, taking place August 21–23.
The invitation came directly from the Secretariat of Culture of the Municipality of Querétaro and the Santiago de Querétaro Children’s and Youth Orchestra. The goal: to build cultural bridges and showcase young talent in a setting where artistry and learning intersect.
“This is an opportunity to show that Puerto Vallarta is much more than beaches and sun,” said Humberto Solís López, the orchestra’s general director. “There’s also culture here, and these young people are its face.” For Solís, the trip is not just a performance — it’s a statement about the city’s depth and creative potential.
Fifteen years in the making
The orchestra, now in its fifteenth year, has trained hundreds of students in classical music. This is the first time the group has received an external invitation to perform at such a large-scale cultural festival.
The 30 members heading to Querétaro were selected from the 45–50 active musicians in the orchestra’s performance wing. In total, the Orquesta Escuela has more than 120 students across different levels and age groups.
Their featured performance will take place at the Teatro de la Ciudad on Saturday, August 23, where they will present a repertoire of nine pieces, carefully chosen to highlight both technical skill and artistic expression.
Beyond the concert stage
While the public performance is the centerpiece of the trip, the festival’s program also includes educational activities. One highlight is a masterclass at a luthier’s workshop, where participants will witness the craft of string instrument making.
For many of these young musicians, it will be their first exposure to the intricate process of building violins, violas, and cellos — an experience that deepens their appreciation for the instruments they play daily.
Making it possible
The trip to Querétaro is supported by a coalition of local sponsors, including Vallarta Medical Center, Vallarta Plus, and Universidad del Valle de Atemajac (UNIVA) Vallarta Campus. Their backing covers travel, accommodation, and logistical costs, ensuring that no student is excluded for financial reasons.
For the orchestra’s leadership, this type of sponsorship reflects a broader community commitment to cultural growth. “Every peso invested in these kids is an investment in the future of our city’s artistic life,” Solís said.
Cultural ambassadors for Puerto Vallarta
In a city known worldwide for its tourism industry, the young musicians see themselves as cultural ambassadors. Their performance in Querétaro offers an alternative narrative about Puerto Vallarta — one built on artistic dedication and educational opportunity rather than beach resorts and nightlife.
If successful, the trip could open doors to more invitations, both within Mexico and internationally, adding a new chapter to the city’s cultural profile.
