By Carolyn Studer “Trial by fire.” That’s how violinist Alexa Torres, the first woman and first violinist to graduate from the University of North Texas’s Jazz Strings Program, describes the bebop class where she first met guitarist Mario Wellmann. “You had to play specific musical devices in all 12 keys,” she said. “Random keys would flash up on a screen and you had to improvise in them. The fact that the keys weren’t tonally related made it harder.” After the exam, they wen

By Frankie Cruz-Aedo Stepping off the cobblestone streets of San Miguel de Allende, an immediate, thumping wall of sound hits you before you even clear the doorway of Flores Drum & Percussion Lessons. Inside, the visual collision of serious rock & roll and pure childhood is everywhere. Nestled beneath posters signed by national rock icons, a professional-grade drum kit sits modified—its cymbals lowered and foot pedals brought inward to accommodate young musicians. Founded to

By Liam Stidham For as long as I have lived, I have always had a massive musical influence in my life. My mom and dad have always made sure that we are around music, either at our house or at different venues in town. However, I always noticed that the music was in the hands of grown adults, amazing musicians who make San Miguel such a vivid town and I have always wondered how their musical career started and how old they were when they started to play. In recent years though

By Felecia Ford What I’ve noticed about Jack Joshua on stage is that he is humble, incredibly present, and an absolute master on bass! He is the musical director and bass player for his Grammy Award-winning wife, singer Lauren Mitchell, whom we featured in last month’s Music Spotlight. After getting to know Lauren and her story, it only seemed right to turn the spotlight toward the man beside her onstage and in life. This month, we get to know Jack Joshua up close and persona

By Felecia Ford From singing the blues alongside legends like Buddy Guy to singing on the Count Basie Orchestra’s Grammy-winning album, “Basie Swings The Blues,” Ohio native Lauren Mitchell has built a career that’s taken her to places most musicians only dream of. FF: When you were asked to record with the Count Basie Orchestra, did you realize the magnitude of what that invitation would bring? LM: I immediately understood the gravity of what I had been asked to do. It was t

By Carolyn Studer In a large, brightly lit room in a London hospital, a jazz ensemble—a drummer, bassist, keyboard player, and several singers, including a young vocalist from México named Federico Azuz—performed for patients undergoing treatment for various degrees of paralysis. As the band launched into the upbeat swing tune Sweet Lorraine, Federico noticed one patient who was so severely paralyzed he could not even move his eyes. Almost immediately, the musicians began to

By Don Krim "I was back home in Zacatecas, teaching in a tiny voice academy, trying to make ends meet. One of my students brought me a mug from the Metropolitan Opera in New York. She said “you HAVE to go there!” and I thought “No way!” I had no money, no visa; I had never been on an airplane. Did I ever imagine I would sing on the MetOpera stage, in a solo role in 2022? “No way!” Thank you, San Miguel MetOpera Trust, for my Metropolitan Opera audition in 2018 and for open

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