The Northern Lights Music Festival began as a dream five years ago when Christopher Wilshere and Nathan Brock were studying advanced music at the University of Toronto.
Since 1998, Chris had donated much of his time to helping teach young Mexican students in the Lake Chapala area, and this experience inspired him, with Nathan, to bring more music to Ajijic for audience pleasure as well as for the enrichment of Mexican students and the Northern Lights Festival was born.
The Festival is presented annually and the sixth Festival is coming soon - from February 20 through March 1, 2008. These two young men would have never imagined that they would achieve this milestone when the first Festival was presented in 2003!
In six years the artistic efforts have grown from simple beginnings to an offering of classical music and jazz that is second to none. Twenty-four of Canada's top professional musicians will participate in this year's Festival, performing in thirteen different concerts over eleven days. The Festival is anchored by the Northern Lights Festival Chamber Orchestra, which will delight audiences with two concerts featuring well-known classical works written by composers spanning 400 years of music.
The objectives of the NLMF are to promote Canadian culture in Mexico by exposing audiences to high quality classical and jazz music performed by young Canadian professional musicians, to promote Canada/Mexico goodwill by offering master classes and school concerts to Mexican music students, and to provide our young music professionals an opportunity to perform on the international stage.
In 2008, the artists plan to conduct master classes at the University of Guadalajara; additionally, they will provide workshops, private tutelage, and concerts for secondary and post-secondary students in the Lakeside area. The Festival will also be taking concerts "on the road" this year, touring nearby cities. Supporters are always needed to join as ticket buyers, Benefactors or Patrons. For further information contact: Tom Gladney: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 766-1210, and/or visit www.northernlightsmusic.ca
