With the aim of becoming a permanent hub for training, collaboration, and artistic exchange in northwestern Mexico, the Mazatlán String Festival 2026 will take place from September 26 to October 2, featuring a tribute to Bach.
Driven by a team of instructors and alumni from the Municipal Center for the Arts (CMA)—Frida Zebadúa, Maritza Cisneros, Víctor Osuna, and Citlali Cisneros—the festival was one of nine projects selected nationwide by the 2026 Program for Support of Teaching, Research, and Dissemination of the Arts (PADID). The initiative is supported by the Mazatlán Municipal Institute of Culture, Tourism, and Art, led by Óscar García Osuna, and backed by the “Centenario” Sinaloa Center for the Arts, directed by Claudia Apodaca, and the Sinaloa Institute of Culture (ISIC), headed by Dr. Juan Salvador Avilés.
At a press conference held at the Music Museum, Óscar García Osuna—Director General of the Mazatlán Municipal Institute of Culture, Tourism, and Art—joined by administrators and organizers, presented the details of this artistic gathering, which originated from the initiative of CMA instructors and alumni.
The Director General of Culture highlighted the institution’s pride in backing a nationally recognized project born of local talent, as well as the value of art in today’s society. “In these times, art is a wonderful companion,” he remarked.
For his part, Víctor Alonso Osuna, the event’s coordinator, emphasized that each edition aims to leave a lasting legacy within the artistic community of the port city and the region. The festival will bring together nearly 70 participating musicians—ranging from children as young as six to advanced students and professionals playing violin, viola, cello, and double bass—and will reach an estimated audience of over 500 people through lectures, masterclasses, and four free concerts.
The String Festival’s activities are primarily aimed at string players—violinists, violists, cellists, and double bassists—ranging from age six to professionals interested in sharing ideas and working on technique and the understanding of early music through…
Academic Program and Faculty
Festival coordinator Víctor Alonso Osuna highlighted that the event is designed for students from Mazatlán and the southern region of Sinaloa, offering an environment where teachers, students, and professionals can share knowledge to strengthen musical development in northwestern Mexico.
Notable members of the faculty conducting the masterclasses include:
• Nina Farvarshchuck (Ukraine): Concertmaster of the Camerata Mazatlán.
• Dr. Rafael Palacios: Musicologist from Brussels.
• Guest musicians: Members of the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra (OSX) and the OSX Baroque Academy.
During the press conference, Víctor Osuna announced that the four free concerts would convey the elegance, perfection, joy, and organic fluidity that characterize the music of J. S. Bach.
1. Faculty Opening Concert: A performance by the instructors leading the masterclasses.
2. “Baroque Dialogues”: A special performance featuring members of the Camerata Mazatlán alongside the participating instructors at San José Parish (October 1).
3. Young Performers’ Concert: Featuring standout students from the masterclasses at the Music Museum (morning of October 2).
4. Closing Concert: A grand performance at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (afternoon of October 2). For music students interested in participating in academic activities and workshops:
• Active students: $200.00
• Auditors: $100.00
• REGISTRATION: 669 225 2593.
