The cooperation between the two institutions begins with a concert in Barcelona by the Celaya Conservatory vocal octet, performing traditional Mexican music.
On November 11, 2025, Aurora Cárdenas, Director of the Celaya Conservatory, and Maria Serrat Martín, General Director of the Liceu Conservatory Foundation, met in Barcelona to sign a collaboration agreement between the two institutions. This agreement promotes mutual cooperation through the development of joint programs and activities. The planned actions include student and teacher exchanges, as well as joint musical projects.
The Celaya Conservatory of Music is a non-profit civil association dedicated to promoting excellence in music education in its region. It has established itself as one of the most important breeding grounds for talented young Mexican musicians. Its alumni are currently recognized as high-level performers and teachers in various musical projects throughout the country. As part of its institutional mission, the Conservatory also develops important social projects in some areas of the state of Guanajuato.
To inaugurate and celebrate this collaboration, on November 11th. at 18:30 p.m., both institutions, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Mexico in Barcelona, presented a concert by the Celaya Conservatory Vocal Octet, one of the country’s most representative vocal groups, which since 2022 has brought together outstanding students in the field of singing under the direction of Antonio García-Aguilar to promote Mexican music in its concert version in different countries around the world.
The event began with a speech by Dr. Maria Serrat Martin, Director General of the Conservatori Liceu, who welcomed the attendees and highlighted some of the values and objectives shared by both institutions: musical excellence, the importance of music education in today’s society, and internationalization as a tool for artistic music training in today’s world. She also highlighted the Conservatori Liceu’s important relationship with Mexican institutions, which spans more than twenty years. Aurora Cárdenas, Director of the Conservatorio de Celaya, then emphasized the importance of international exchange in music and the future projects that will be strengthened through the signed agreement. Finally, Mr. José Antonio Labra, Mexican Consul in Barcelona, stressed the importance of this agreement for his country, its impact on young Mexican musicians, and its contribution to strengthening the cultural ties between Mexico and Catalonia.
The concert followed, in which the Vocal Octet of the Celaya Conservatory, conducted by Antonio García-Aguilar, performed some of the best-known pieces from the Mexican folk repertoire, such as Jarabe Tapatío, La Llorona, Cielito Lindo, among others.
This activity is part of the Conservatori Liceu Foundation’s Collaboration Program with Latin America, started in 2001, through which the institution has established institutional agreements with conservatories, universities, and cultural organizations in several Latin American countries, including Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Paraguay, and Brazil.