Ensamble Danaus, the Leading Wind Quintet in Michoacán, to Offer Free Concert at the Jesuita

• With free admission, the quintet seeks to break the stereotype that “classical music isn’t fun.”

Recognized nationally for their artistic excellence and their commitment to promoting Mexican concert music, Ensamble Danaus celebrates its seventh anniversary with a series of performances that include a concert in the city of Pátzcuaro. The group will appear at the Centro Cultural Antiguo Colegio Jesuita on Sunday, June 22 at 1:00 PM.

With free entry and voluntary donations, the quintet — joined by pianist Ana Paula Rojo — will present a program featuring works by Poulenc, Ligeti, Françaix, and Barber. In their ongoing mission to make chamber music accessible to all audiences and to challenge the notion that “classical music isn’t fun,” the ensemble always provides information about each composer along with a brief explanation of every piece. Their performances are engaging and inviting, encouraging audience members to approach them after the concert to ask questions and share impressions.

Danaus has performed at major festivals across the country, such as FICA 21 in Veracruz, the Alfonso Ortiz Tirado Festival in Álamos, Sonora, the UNAM Aires Festival, the Miguel Bernal Jiménez Music Festival in Morelia, the Manuel Enríquez International Forum of New Music, and the Early Music Festival in Morelia.

All members of the ensemble serve as principal players in the Orquesta Filarmónica del Tzintzuni, and they contribute to Michoacán’s musical life through other important institutions such as the Michoacán Symphony Orchestra (OSIDEM), the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, and the Semilleros Creativos of the Fomento Musical program in Michoacán.

Danaus plexippus is the scientific name of the monarch butterfly, an iconic symbol of the state of Michoacán. The quintet is named after this butterfly, which finds a home in Michoacán after traveling great distances.

In 2022, Ensamble Danaus was selected to represent Michoacán in the Música RAÍZ México initiative. The group is currently touring the states of Jalisco, Colima, Guanajuato, and Michoacán. Since 2020, they have been invited annually by the Department of University Outreach at the Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas to offer instrument workshops and concerts.

Their repertoire is broad and spans from the Medieval period to the present day. Constantly evolving, the program includes new voices and creative fusions of popular and folk music, helping to bring concert music to new audiences.

All members of the quintet also teach at the Facultad Popular de Bellas Artes of the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo (FPBA-UMSNH).

Ensamble Danaus members:

David Ramírez – Flute

Everardo Gastélum – Bassoon

Citlalli Rosas – Clarinet

Monserrat García – Oboe

Jenny Cárdenas – French Horn

Learn more about their work and upcoming concerts at: www.ensambledanaus.com

https://youtu.be/9HWaVO_WGe8?si=XWxnYOBqLgwsdlA5