By Felecia Ford Our August Music Spotlight is on Doug Robinson—a piano wizard, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and musical storyteller whose fingerprints can be found all over San Miguel’s vibrant music scene. Although Doug’s journey began in sunny California, it eventually led him to the cobblestone streets of our city, where for more than two decades he has become one of its most respected and recognizable musicians. With 18 independent albums to his credit and on

By John Challis, Board Member, Operísima Mexico Beyond its celebrated visual arts and cultural festivals, San Miguel de Allende has earned a reputation as one of Mexico’s leading opera destinations. The longstanding seasonal contributions of several esteemed opera organizations continue to sustain a vibrant tradition of training programs, concerts, and competitions that attract emerging artists and audiences from around the world. Since beginning its activities in San Miguel

By Carolyn Studer “Somebody once told me, ‘Don’t worry. Great things happen in small spaces.’” — Papacho Sirdey, jazz pianist and producer After moving to San Miguel de Allende, the only thing I missed was the small, intimate jazz clubs I frequented in Los Angeles—places like the Baked Potato and Charlie O’s, where you could hear exceptional musicians surrounded by people who truly loved listening to jazz. So I was delighted to discover the concert series at Cine Bacco—a 25-s

By John Challis, Board Member, Operísima Mexico Beyond its celebrated visual arts and cultural festivals, San Miguel de Allende has earned a reputation as one of Mexico’s leading opera destinations. The longstanding seasonal contributions of several esteemed opera organizations continue to sustain a vibrant tradition of training programs, concerts, and competitions that attract emerging artists and audiences from around the world. Since beginning its activities in San Miguel

By Felecia Ford When music is truly your calling, it has a way of finding you throughout your life—and Karen Libby’s story is a wonderful example of that. It is my pleasure to introduce this month’s Music Spotlight on Karen, one of my favorite musicians in town. FF: What are your earliest memories of music? KL: I grew up in upstate New York with parents who loved music-Jazz, mostly 1920’s & 1930’s was always playing in the house. My father had a massive collection of old 7

By Charles Woollett You have to go back in time for a little context to understand the motivation behind Myles Wakeham’s inspiration for his Troubled Clef Recording Studio. London, Oxford Circus, circa 1970s, and the brilliant A.I.R (Associated Independent Recording) Studios, one of the most in-demand recording studios ever. Researching this article made me reminisce about my days at Revolver Records in Tottenham Court and having coffee & cheese sandwiches with our friendly c

By Staff Writer The Music Society of San Miguel (MSSM) proudly presents the 2026 Chamber Music Festival, a celebration of artistic excellence, music education, and cultural exchange in San Miguel de Allende. Bringing together internationally acclaimed artists and distinguished ensembles, the festival offers audiences a unique opportunity to experience world-class music while fostering artistic development and community engagement. The festival opens on July 10, at the histori

By Liam Stidham I grew up listening to rock thanks to my dad. He set a wide influence on me as a kid and I'm thankful for that. But my mom has made sure that I also got a good dose of classical music. She enrolled me into piano and violin lessons when I was really young and she has always dragged me to see classical music concerts, plays and ballet recitals. When we heard that San Miguel finally had an orchestra, she dragged me to that too, and I really enjoyed it! In fact,

By Liam Stidham Every great musician usually started with an influence, like watching a music video on TV, or watching a live concert on YouTube. In my case, when I was 8, I was with my parents watching a video of my favorite drummer, Taylor Hawkins, and then out of the blue, I told my parents that I wanted to play the drums. They were surprised but supportive and the next summer I went to a place called BandAid School of Music, and the School of Rock, in the US. When I came

By Felecia Ford From Ontario indie-pop jams as a teenager to deeply expressive jazz improvisations today, San Miguel's multi-instrumentalist and saxophonist Sophia Smith speaks about music not just as performance, but as a path toward self-discovery. FF: What first drew you to the saxophone, and when did you realize music was becoming something more serious for you? SS: I was around 14 when I started jamming with friends and really connecting to the saxophone. Playing in an i

By Felecia Ford Sekouna Conté was born into a lineage of musical and dance tradition. He demonstrated exceptional talent from an early age, quickly assuming leading roles in the ensembles he joined and establishing himself as a devoted guardian of ancestral musical knowledge. Originally from Forecariah, Guinea, Sekou was raised in a culture not unlike México, where music and dance are a way of life. He was supported by his family, who valued both his education and his artisti

Written by Margot E. Sinclair, writer and publicist As Lady Zen’s birthday approaches over the Mother’s Day weekend—on May 9th—a heartfelt tradition will unfold. Each year, she celebrates by hosting a special Mother’s Day concert. This event is not just another performance—it is a deeply personal way to honor her own journey, which began as an orphan, and to give back to the community. This year’s concert carries extraordinary purpose: all proceeds go directly to creating a s

By Carolyn Studer “When oppressed communities sing, they are doing more than making music. They are declaring that the present reality does not get the last word.” — Rev. Dr. Brian Blount For centuries, music has given voice to hope in times of hardship. From spirituals sung in the face of slavery to the improvisational freedom of jazz and the bold, defiant energy of rap, African American music has carried a message of resistance and hope. That tradition will come to San Mig

By Natalie Taylor Stephanie Hough Lanier grew up in Philadelphia. She began with a Catholic school education, but in the sixth grade, she convinced her mother to let her go her to a school run by Jewish mothers, with a more open education she loved. From a young age, Stephanie’s passion was ballet, and she got a scholarship to Elmira College in New York, dreaming of a dance career. But a ballet teacher gave her a reality check: “Have you ever seen a Black prima ballerina?”

By Felecia Ford For over a quarter of a century, the streets of San Miguel have been filled with the sounds of Pilaseca . Now, with new singles and videos being released this year, it’s safe to say they are still going strong. I had a chance to ask lead singer Paco Rivera about their beginnings and where they are headed. FF: How did Pilaseca become a band and where did the band originate? PR: Originally from México City, I came to San Miguel in 1998. I noticed the music sce

By Felecia Ford With decades of work across jazz, rock, and classical composition, San Diegueño mega-pianist Doug Robinson has been one of San Miguel de Allende’s musical heavyweights for over 20 years. FF: Your group, The DVR Trio just returned from a huge music festival in Cuba. How was your experience? DR: It was an amazing trip, profound and beautiful, and filled with contradictions. Such a vibrant and joyous culture, despite so many layers of hardship and oppressio

By Carolina de la Cajiga “So far, the best I’ve heard in 2026 is: ‘Nos encanta tocar las flautas dulces!’” (We love playing recorders!). This is what two of my fourth-grade students yelled when they saw me coming on a recent cold morning.” Since 2019, Barbara Lee Ungar , Barbarita , has been a volunteer music teacher at Pedro Moreno Primary School, in Salitrillo, a poor, rural community on the outskirts of San Miguel. “I teach a recorder class and a general music class using

By Felecia Ford Mexican vocalist Alain Arroyo grew up listening to the voices of Pedro Vargas and Jorge Negrete, alongside artists like Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Ray Charles. His voice was also shaped by country, soul, blues, pop, and even hip-hop. We are fortunate to hear his voice resonating through the streets of San Miguel de Allende on any given night. FF: When I first heard your voice, I thought to myself, who is this guy, and why is he not famous? What first in

By Carole Schor For over two decades, ProMusica San Miguel de Allende has stood at the center of SanMiguel’s cultural life, bringing world-class classical music and opera to audiences in intimate, historic settings. Under the leadership of president Michael Pearl, ProMusica has become renowned for its ambitious programming and commitment to artistic excellence including life-changing opportunities for young musicians. Pearl, a passionate music impresario since childhood, say

By Felecia Ford Elihú Catalán , better known as “Blue Beard” is one of México’s most distinctive and accomplished harmonica players. Born and raised in México City, he was shaped early on by the music his parents played at home and later refined through his lifelong dedication to the blues. Although guitar was his first instrument (he ROCK’S the guitar), the harmonica ultimately has became his true love and passion. FF: Thank you for this opportunity to share your story. W