Across Borders with Guitars – Exchange Trip to Veracruz
From August 15 to 30, 2026, music became a living expression of international exchange: five young guitar students of Edgar Ocampo (Neutraubling Municipal Music School) travelled together with their families to the State of Veracruz in Mexico. A total of 14 people made the journey to Xalapa and Coatepec to experience a unique musical and cultural adventure.
The trip was the second part of an exchange project developed by Prof. Cutberto Córdova of the University of Veracruz and Edgar Ocampo. The foundation for the project had already been laid in 2024, when the first group of Mexican students visited Neutraubling. Now it was time for the return visit to Mexico – continuing a connection that goes far beyond making music together.
The focus of the exchange was on intensive rehearsals and three concerts (Pacona Hall at the Coatepec City Hall, Anthropology Museum and Music Faculty of the University of Veracruz in Xalapa) performed together with Mexican students and musicians. The young guitarists from Germany and Mexico played music together and gained valuable experiences both on and off stage. The concert in Coatepec, in particular, became a memorable experience and received considerable attention in the local press.
But the exchange was not limited to the concert stage. Joint excursions, a trip to the coast, a hike, and a visit to a concert by the Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa provided numerous opportunities to discover the country, its culture, and its people. Particularly valuable was the opportunity for the German and Mexican families to meet and spend time together.
The trip was made possible above all by the extraordinary generosity and hospitality of the families involved in both countries. Their support was essential in making this project possible.
Thus, a musical project became a personal encounter, encounters grew into friendships, and a shared love of the guitar became a bridge between Germany and Mexico.
Poster (information about the events)
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