This year’s Mérida Clásica Moderna brings an extraordinary lineup of international and local artists to the forefront of avant-garde music. Featuring composers and musicians from Yucatán, Mexico City, the United States, and Germany, this series will redefine the boundaries of classical music, blending innovation with tradition.
With influences spanning science, philosophy, and cutting-edge technology, this year’s concerts promise a journey into uncharted artistic territories. Let’s explore the schedule and meet the incredible artists behind this groundbreaking event.
Concert Highlights
Sound Art and Improvisation
📍 Centro Cultural Olimpo
🗓️ Tuesday, February 4, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Kick off the season with German sound artist Birgit Ulher, known for her imaginative soundscapes. She is joined by Robert Constable, Amaury León Sosa, and Mérida’s own Carmen Maldonado (percussion) and Eduardo Rivas (saxophone/clarinet) for an evening of experimental music and spontaneous creation.
🎟️ Admission: $100 pesos
Music by Mérida Composers
📍 Centro Cultural Olimpo
🗓️ Wednesday, February 19, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Celebrate the diversity of Mérida’s musical talent with works by Tobías Álvarez, Víctor Celis Padrón, Diego Elizarraraz, and more. Featuring Carmen Maldonado, Alberto Pelisier (cello), and the Manuel López Ramos Guitar Quartet, this concert combines electroacoustic innovation with classical traditions.
🎟️ Admission: FREE
Coro de Cámara de Yucatán
📍 Centro Cultural Olimpo
🗓️ Thursday, February 27, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Led by Jonathan Rentería Valdés, this celebrated choir performs an original composition by Robert Constable, based on poetry by Humberto Repetto Ortega. This stunning blend of a cappella and electroacoustic music is a tribute to Maestro Luis Fernando Luna Guarneros.
🎟️ Admission: FREE
ECO | Ensemble of Contemporary Music UNAY
📍 UNAY Salon No.7
🗓️ Thursday, March 27, 2025 | 7:00 PM
A concert of new music with the excellent musicians at the Universidad de las Artes de Yucatán , with music by Marcela Rodriguez , Jessica Meyer , Caroline Shaw , Shelley Washington, Manuel Lopez , Yussef Rios and Elías Puc Sanchez . Featuring percussionist
Carmen Maldonado , cellist Alberto Pelisier and flutist Luisa Fuentes .
🎟️ Admission: FREE
The Music of Julio Estrada, Conrad Harris
📍 UNAY Salon No. 7
🗓️ Thursday, March 27, 2025 | 12:00 PM
Seminal composer Julio Estrada describes the philosophical evolution of his music and the compositional techniques
he developed to create new forms and sounds, and also the challenges to the performer. Violinist Conrad Harris will
join Maestro Estrada to play examples of the music.
🎟️ Admission: FREE
Violin Music of Julio Estrada and His Students, Conrad Harris on Violin
📍 Centro Cultural Olimpo
🗓️ Friday, March 28, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Virtuoso and avant-garde music specialist Conrad Harris from New York City plays a concert of violin music by
ground-breaking and influential Mexican composer Julio Estrada , and his students Germán Romero , Marianna
Villanueva , Mauricio Garcia de la Torre , Diego Elizarraraz and others.
🎟️ Admission: FREE
Meet the Artists
- Carmen Maldonado (Percussion): Known for her theatrical music performances, Carmen blends sound and movement to challenge artistic conventions. She is a faculty member at UNAY and founder of the Hifa Collective.
- Conrad Harris (Violin): A virtuoso performer of avant-garde music, Harris is a member of the FLUX Quartet and has collaborated with some of the most celebrated contemporary composers.
- Robert Constable (Composer): With nearly five decades of experience, Constable’s work integrates experimental and electroacoustic elements, often pushing the boundaries of music and technology.
- Julio Estrada (Composer): A pioneer in music theory and composition, Estrada’s works are deeply rooted in innovative techniques and multidisciplinary research.
- Tobías Álvarez (Composer): A young talent from Mérida, Tobías specializes in combining classical music with electroacoustic innovations and interdisciplinary art.
- Alberto Pelisier (Cello): With international experience, Pelisier has performed at festivals worldwide and has studied with renowned cellists.
- Jonathan Rentería Valdés (Director, Coro de Cámara de Yucatán): A seasoned conductor dedicated to preserving and promoting regional and classical choral music.
- Víctor Celis Padrón (Composer): A guitarist and composer blending academic and popular music, Víctor has won numerous awards for his innovative works.
- Diego Elizarraraz (Composer): Known for his experimental approach, Diego’s works reflect introspective and dynamic qualities.
- Amaury León Sosa (Composer): His works span wind ensembles, brass trios, and electronic music, often exploring themes of memory and improvisation.
- Marianna Villanueva (Composer): A Guggenheim Fellow, Villanueva has composed for orchestras and ensembles worldwide, known for her deeply expressive music.
- Eduardo Rivas (Composer/Saxophonist): Rivas’s eclectic compositions have been performed internationally, blending classical and experimental elements.
- Germán Romero (Composer): A Yucatecan artist whose works have earned him national recognition, Germán’s music often delves into deeply personal and philosophical themes.
- Birgit Ulher (Sound Artist): Hailing from Germany, Ulher creates mind-bending soundscapes through experimental improvisation and electronic manipulation.
Why You Should Attend
Mérida Clásica Moderna 2025 isn’t just a concert series—it’s an immersive experience into the forefront of contemporary music and sound art. With free admission to most events, this is your chance to witness some of the most innovative artists and composers in the world.
Follow Mérida Clásica Moderna for updates:
🌐 Facebook: @MeridaClasicaModerna
🌐 Instagram: @meridaclasicamoderna
🌐 YouTube: @MeridaClasicaModerna
Join us in Mérida this February and March for a celebration of music that will inspire and transform!
