Program
Festival del Lago offers a very intense and immersive two weeks of music making and apprenticeship for students from the pre-college level to young professionals. All students will receive a minimum of four private lessons over the two weeks, plus two studio classes with their assigned teacher and four chamber music coaching sessions (if you aren’t already coming as a pre-formed chamber group, you will be assigned one).
We also provide a wide range of performance opportunities to participants. From masterclasses to intimate in-home venues to larger concert halls, everyone will have the opportunity to perform.
The Program
- 4 Private lessons
- 4 chamber music coaching sessions
- Masterclasses
- Studio classes
- Performance opportunities
- Flexible Schedule
- Ample practice time
- Admission to all concerts and events
- Scholarship opportunities
- Rehearsals with a collaborative pianist
Cultural enrichment
We hope that you soak in as much of the Mexican/Ajijic experience as possible. There are organic food and other fun street markets in the village, artisanal shops on almost every corner, golf, tennis, swimming, opulent spas, horseback riding, and a plethora of cafes, bars, and restaurants. We offer some basic Spanish classes for beginners, as well as morning yoga classes, organized trips to local cultural sites, and guided hiking tours through the mountains. Guadalajara, the birthplace of mariachi music, is only a one-hour drive from Ajijic. But most of all, the beauty, colours and serenity of Ajijic itself is inspiring for any artist.
Community
We give students at Festival del Lago the opportunity to get to know the faculty on a more personal basis, so faculty and students all eat in the same dining area. The hope is that you will develop healthy long-term relationships with the faculty and other friends that might benefit you, your playing, and your career in the future, not to mention lifelong friends. With a maximum number of students capped at 60, the student-teacher ratio is approximately 6-to-1.
Typical daily schedule
Students are given the freedom to study whenever they like and may practice in their own private rooms. Chamber music rehearsals can take place either in another student’s living quarters or in designated rehearsal spaces.
| 8:00 - 9:00 | Breakfast |
| 9:00 - 12:00 | Private Lesson / Individual Study / Rehearsals |
| 12:00 - 14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 - 16:00 | Masterclasses |
| 16:00 - 18:00 | Chamber Music Coaching / Individual Study / Rehearsals |
| 18:00 - 20:00 | Dinner |
| 20:00 | Faculty or Student Recitals |
If your chamber ensemble (string quartet, piano trio, etc.) is interested also, you have the option of exchanging your private lessons for chamber music coaching sessions so that you can have an even more intensive chamber music experience at FDL. (However, chamber music coaching cannot be exchanged for private lessons.)