Arpa Fest 2024 Wraps Up with Stunning Concert in Puerto Morelos

Around 500 people attended a remarkable concert last night, marking the end of the tenth annual Arpa Fest. The event showcased the talents of Mexican and South American harpists, filling Founders Park in the Old Town with the resonating chords of this beautiful instrument. The evening featured a variety of melodies, including traditional jarochos tunes performed by renowned harpists from Veracruz.

The event was part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations of Quintana Roo's status as a free and sovereign state. José de Jesús Espinosa Payán, the city's general secretary, described it as "a celebration of culture, art, and tradition." He noted that Arpa Fest has always been a platform for the harp's music to cross borders. He expressed pride in the festival's tenth edition, not only for its successful history but also for its role as an international benchmark. Arpa Fest is more than a music festival; it aims to preserve and promote cultural heritage among new generations of musicians and fans.

Julio César González Hernández, General Director of Arpa Fest, thanked the Puerto Morelos authorities for hosting the festival. He highlighted the festival's impact over the past decade, with more than 30,000 attendees, over 1,800 concerts, more than 200 artists, and participants from over 20 countries. He also acknowledged Paraguayan harpist Celso Duarte, the festival's "lifetime godfather," and Alberto de la Rosa Sánchez, founder and director of the Veracruz University group Tlen Huicani, for their significant contributions.

The concert kicked off with a performance by Carlos Dylan Galindo, a young solo jarocho harpist from Xico, Veracruz. Yolotzin Campos from Xalapa then delighted the audience with instrumental versions of jarocho tunes. The evening continued with performances from an Ensemble of Harps from Mexico, Paraguayan Celso Duarte, and the Tlen Huicani group. The concert concluded with an ensemble of 20 harps, featuring all the artists mentioned, performing traditional pieces like Mambrú Went to War and La Bamba.