Welcome to
A society committed to music, music education, and collaboration within the guild.
“Our mission is to strengthen the Musical Community of San Miguel de Allende through an organized and inclusive musical ecosystem.
We are committed to enriching local cultural life by collaborating with the artistic community within and abroad, organizing concerts, and developing training programs that empower our community to express themselves through music.
We are dedicated to inspiring, connecting, and transforming lives through the power of music, fostering creativity, diversity, and inclusion in all our efforts.”
THE VALUES THAT GUIDE US AND WHAT WE BELIEVE IN:
PASSION FOR MUSIC
We are deeply moved by music and fully aware of its transformative power to improve our lives.
COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY
We create opportunities for community members to work together, share ideas, and support one another. We value diversity, inclusion, and local culture.
CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION
We encourage musicians’ ingenuity and skills through music education and professional training, which are essential for progress in various aspects of life.
Jonah Kim
Artistic Director
An artist of great charisma and originality, Kim’s beauty of tone is immediately distinguishable by its signature sweetness. Kim invites the listener in with “the cosy warmth of a well-loved cashmere sweater,” (Gramophone) then “dives into the music with courage underpinned by formidable technical prowess, with which he achieves a dazzling performance.” (All About the Arts)
Kim made his solo debut with Wolfgang Sawallisch and the Philadelphia Orchestra at 12 years of age, and has since captured the hearts of audiences around the world. Beyond the stage, his recent recording of the Kodaly Solo Sonata is praised for “[capturing] the very elusiveness that gives the music its substance” (Gramophone) and “flawless delivery of its Herculean technical demands… the sense of exhilaration in this performance has us on the edge of our seats.” (The Strad).
Named artistic director of Festival San Miguel de Allende in 2023, Kim is known for his unique programming, in which creativity and wide-ranging taste are guided by beauty. The presentations have been compared to “the masques of Henry Purcell or the Gesamtkunstwerk operas of Richard Wagner” (San Luis Obispo Review).
Luis Eduardo Quezada Bárcenas
Executive Director
Musician and producer, passionate about creating unique cultural experiences together with other artists.
I have been director of the marketing agency APV Another Point of View, UNSHOW Producciones and the San Miguel de Allende Chamber Music Festival (2022 – 2025), and have worked with cultural organizations such as the Seminario de Cultura Mexicana Corresponsalía Uruapan and the Festival Internacional de Órgano de Morelia Alfonso Vega Nuñez (FIOM) in Morelia.
Paulina Derbez
Education Projects Coordinator
Ms. Paulina Derbez is a multi-award-winning violinist, educator, and author. She is the president of the Mexican Network of Healthy Conservatories, which works in partnership with Healthy Conservatoires in the United Kingdom, and she is the founder of the methodology The Conscious Musician. She is the author of the book The Invisible Force of Music: Tapping into Your Mind and Heart Potential for Performance. Derbez is an artist with Petrichor Records in New York, and among her most recent violin awards are: Special Prize at the Virtuoso International Music Awards (VIMA) in London, Honorary Prize at the Maurice Ravel Competition in Paris, third place at the BTHVN Competition in Vienna, and Special Prize at the Salzburg International Competition. She has performed concerts, and given courses and seminars worldwide, and has been a member of the scientific committee of the International Symposium for Performance Science. She holds a Master’s degree in Music Pedagogy from the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC). For more information, visit www.paulinaderbez.com.
Kathleen Ellsworth
Community Leader and Advocate for Volunteerism
Originally from California and a resident of San Miguel de Allende for over a decade, Kathleen Ellsworth has become a prominent figure in the city’s philanthropic and volunteer community. With exemplary dedication and a deep sense of commitment, she has actively contributed to a variety of organizations, including Feed the Hungry, Pro Música, the Chamber Music Festival, and the Public Library, always bringing strength, professionalism, and outstanding organizational skills. Her constant presence and tireless work have made her one of the leading personalities in San Miguel’s social fabric.
Kristy Erickson Jonas
Community Ambassador
Retired from a successful real estate career in Texas, where she was known through Realtor Out and About, Kristy Jonas now devotes her time and energy to the cultural and philanthropic life of San Miguel de Allende. An artist at heart, she finds joy in singing and playing the violin, and brings that passion into her community work. Kristy is an active and constant volunteer with organizations such as the Music Society of San Miguel and Chorale San Miguel, among others. Her presence is marked by a genuine enthusiasm and dedication, making her a true ambassador for the causes she supports.
Alzenira Santos Amaral Quezada
Community Ambassador
Known artistically as Lady Zen, she is a Master of Fine Arts from Stonecoast MFA (Maine) and a Fulbright Scholar in Opera from the University of Arkansas.
Internationally recognized as a performer, she is also a published author, TEDx speaker, producer and art director. She lives in Mexico, where she collaborates with the Marin Shakespeare Company and has written a film that has won over thirty international awards. She currently tours with her Royal Court Band, performing in CDMX, Querétaro, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta and San Miguel de Allende.
