A Mexican Orchestra in Belize

The Philharmonic Orchestra of Xalapa in Mexico is in Belize tonight putting on a twentieth anniversary show. The fifty-member orchestra says that the milestone celebration will feature a single show that kicked off at seven tonight inside the Bliss. We stopped by to check them out in rehearsal and found out that the group is working to build a relationship with Belize’s National Youth Orchestra. The Principal Conductor Eduardo Lopez tells us more about their mission in Belize.

Eduardo Carlos Juarez Lopez, Principal Conductor, Philharmonic Orchestra of Xalapa

Eduardo Lopez Juarez Lopez

“We are celebrating our twentieth anniversary and we are celebrating it with a journey. This one is an international journey and it is an orchestra formed by friends. So, there are a lot of fellowship, music and a lot of contact between us.  Yes, it is our first international performance. We have performed in other parts of Mexico but this is the first time internationally.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Why Belize?”

Eduardo Lopez Juarez Lopez

“Mario Pech, who is a composer who is going to play in the concert, talked to his contacts in Belize. And that is why we are here.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Talk to us about the importance of being in existence for so many years and performing all around Mexico and now Belize?”

Eduardo Lopez Juarez Lopez

“I think for every orchestra in the world, it is a goal to perform outside our country. It is an amazing experience. I think the most important thing that we are going to do is to create a connection with the National Youth Orchestra. That is important because music is for transcending. It is for connecting people. It is for doing art.”