About Us
For 20 years, the picturesque fishing village of Ajijic has been host to one of the most important and prestigious festivals in Mexico: The Northern Lights Music Festival, with some of the most talented artists from around the world coming together for musical inspiration, camaraderie and to experience the incredible natural beauty of the location.
A significant part of this event is our support of the development of young, upcoming Mexican musicians to whom we offer private instruction, public masterclasses, and scholarships so they may continue their musical studies. By doing so, we aim to increase the appreciation of classical music among young people and enhance their musical abilities.
The first Festival, held in 2003, was greeted with rave reviews and sold-out theatres. Since then, it has become the most anticipated cultural event in the Lake Chapala area and has garnered a reputation for excellence in Guadalajara as well.
The success of the February event enabled us to create our international summer music academy, the Festival del Lago.
With its first season held in 2018, the Festival del Lago International Academy of Music has quickly gained an international reputation and is now recognized as the most important summer music academy in Mexico, with the highest level of performance in Latin America.
We have assembled a first-rate faculty from Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Europe. With a very low student-to-teacher ratio of about 6/1, we offer each participant a more immersive and personalized experience.
In 2024, we had 64 attendees, half from Mexico and the other half from countries around the world. Our reputation for quality has spread to the point that this year we had over 120 applicants, and we expect that number to increase, along with the level of talent they bring.
We offer our Rising Stars a wide range of performance opportunities, ranging from masterclasses to intimate in-home public performances to events in larger concert halls.
In the future, we will increase our community outreach to include performances in the Ajijic Cultural Center, hospitals, assisted living facilities, and more.
The Northern Lights Music Festival is a registered non-profit organization in both Mexico and the United States.
All proceeds from our February events go to the Northern Lights Festival Education Fund, which provides scholarships and covers expenses for the Festival del Lago.
We cannot think of another community anywhere in the world that could make it possible for us to provide such high-quality entertainment while also supporting the future Rising Stars of classical music.
Your financial support and the time and effort donated by our extraordinary volunteers and hosts make these festivals successful.
Thank you for supporting the future of the Northern Lights Music Festival and the Festival del Lago International Academy of Music.