Sunday, October 19, 2025

Thieves make off with half a million pesos’ worth of orchestra’s instruments

Thieves in Oaxaca’s Sierra Mixe stole musical instruments from a children’s orchestra last week, triggering protests by the indigenous children and their parents to demand justice and the return of their instruments.

The trumpets, clarinets, saxophones, piccolos and other instruments of the orchestra in San Pedro y San Pablo Ayutla, comprised of 80% student musicians, were stolen from their school after a performance to celebrate the Virgin of Guadalupe on December 12.

The 36 instruments were valued at 500,000 pesos (US $26,000).

“They stole our soul and our history,” said orchestra director Pablo Vásquez Ramírez.

In response, Oaxaca Governor Alejandro Murat said the instruments will be replaced.

To help out and raise funds for the Ayutla musicians, a children’s orchestra in San Lorenzo Cacaotepec held a concert at the Children’s Museum of Oaxaca on Tuesday.

“To steal instruments is to cut off the wings of a musician, so we’re supporting them so they can buy new instruments,” said orchestra director Benjamin Bautista.

Sources: Milenio (sp), 24 Horas (sp)

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.

Mexico’s week in review: Flood recovery and booming electric vehicle exports

0
Other headlines include the U.S. decision to revoke dozens of politicians' visas and a groundbreaking lawsuit on behalf of Mexican whales.
News quiz

The MND News Quiz of the Week: October 18th

0
Soccer stars, silver screens and sinking ships: Have you been paying attention to the headlines this week?
Anthropology Museum

Congress’s lower house raises fees on tourist and residency visas

6
The fee hike on foreigners is accompanied by higher entry prices for everyone to museums and archaeological sites, and tax boosts on soda and electrolyte drinks.
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity