Ars Vocalis México

Ars Vocalis Mexico was an international vocal academy and festival that celebrated the art of vocal music. Established by artistic director Carlos Zapién, the inaugural event took place in the summer of 2011 in Zamora de Hidalgo, Michoacán, Mexico.


The festival provided a unique pedagogical program for talented young Mexican singers, offering them the chance to participate in master classes conducted by distinguished figures from the opera world in Europe and the United States. Alongside these classes, students honed their skills with coaches from renowned international opera houses and educational institutions.


In addition to opera, students immersed themselves in studying German vocal repertoire (Lied), Zarzuela, Renaissance, and Baroque music. The primary goal of Ars Vocalis Mexico was to bring together world-class singers and teachers to inspire and mentor Mexico's brightest young vocal talents.


Over five years, Ars Vocalis Mexico nurtured 225 carefully selected students through a rigorous three-week program. The most promising individuals were chosen to be part of the Valores Mexicanos series, where they showcased their abilities in public recitals. Participants engaged in various recitals, including Opera galas, Liederabende, and performances of Renaissance and Baroque music. Some students were also featured in the festival's operatic productions.


Throughout its five editions, Ars Vocalis Mexico hosted 87 musical presentations, witnessed by a total of 131,000 attendees across various cities such as Zamora, Morelia, Nahuatzen, Jiquilpan, Uruapan, Ciudad Obregón, and Cócorit. These numbers do not even account for the real-time internet broadcasts and free television transmissions that reached audiences in the states of Michoacán, Jalisco, and Sonora.

Ars Vocalis Mexico served as a beacon for vocal excellence, nurturing the talents of young singers and enriching communities through the beauty of vocal music.