Program
Festival del Lago offers a very intense and immersive two weeks of music making and apprenticeship for students from precollege level to young professional. All students will receive a minimum of 4 private lessons over the two weeks plus two studio classes with their assigned teacher and 4 chamber music coachings (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 coachings
- Masterclasses
- Studio classes
- Performance opportunities
- Flexible Schedule
- Ample practice time
- Admission to all concerts and events
- Scholarship opportunities
- Rehearsals with 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, there are organized trips to local cultural sites, guided hiking tours through the mountains and Guadalajara, the birthplace of Mariachi is only a 1 hour drive from Ajijic. But most of all, the beauty, colours and serenity of Ajijic itself is inspiring form 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 fellows that might benefit you, your playing and your career in the future, not to mention life long friends. With a maximum number of students capped at 60, the student teacher ratio is approximately 6/1.
Typical daily schedule
Students are given the freedom to study whenever they like and are able to practice in their own private rooms. Chamber music rehearsals can either take place in another student’s living quarters or in designated rehearsal spaces.
| 8:00 - 10:00 | Breakfast |
| 9:00 - 13:00 | Private Lesson / Individual Study / Rehearsals |
| 12:00 - 14:00 | Lunch |
| 12:00 - 16:00 | Masterclasses |
| 14:00 - 18:00 | Chamber Music Coachings / 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 in coming, you have the option, if you so wish, of exchanging your private lessons for chamber music coachings so that you can have an even more intensive chamber music experience at FDL.