Joy, education & empowerment through
music
Welcome to Kookix Music School in
Dzemul, Yucatán, México
Welcome to KOOKIX MUSIC SCHOOL in Dzemul, Yucatán, México. We are a private, not for profit project that offers free music classes for children of all ages, including the instruments of their choice, in the pueblo of Dzemul and the surrounding communities in the northern Yucatan.
The project was started by Marjorie Skouras and Bruno Bardavid on their ranch Quinta Kookix in September 2021. Our mission is to empower students of all backgrounds to explore their creative potential and develop a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
To date, it has been supported financially by Marjorie and Bruno, along with some donations by friends and family of both funds and instruments.
Listen to
La Llorona
Performed for Hanal Pixan, the night of the children’s spirits for Day of the Dead, at the cemetery of Dzemul.
November 1, 2022
Our Story
We are a private, not for profit project that offers free music classes for children of all ages in the pueblo of Dzemul and the surrounding communities in the northern Yucatan with a vision of using music as a vehicle for social change.
The project was started by Marjorie Skouras and Bruno Bardavid on their ranch Quinta Kookix in September 2021. To date, it has been supported by Marjorie and Bruno, along with donations by friends and a growing family of donors from 9 countries around the world, of both funds and instruments. Our aim was to find a way in which we could participate in a meaningful way in our new community, where we are 2 of only 3 foreigners currently living here. There was no music school in Dzemul, hence the only option for music instruction was through private lessons, something that is cost prohibitive for most of the children in Dzemul. Dzemul, like most of Mexico, has a rich musical and dance tradition – the Ballet Folklorico Las Gardenias Jarana dancers are known statewide, and three generations ago Dzemul had an 80-piece orchestra named the Clave Azul (The Blue Note). Our thought was that we could offer something that might afford an enriching experience through music, fill a void for the community, and help to preserve local traditions.
Our story in pictures
Our school has a colorful history filled with characters best shown through the
imagery we have captured along the way.
An introduction to our instructors in their own words
Maestro Jose Luis Chan Sabido
Program Coordinator and Singing Teacher Kookix Music School
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A native of Merida, Yucatan, Jose Luis is the founder and head of the Vienna Music Academy in the nearby pueblo of Motul. His story is remarkable, an inspiration of the highest order, and we are blessed to have him helping to refine and enhance our experience at Kookix Music School.
A violin prodigy, Jose Luis left the Yucatan by himself at the age of 14 to go and study violin at the Music School of the University of Veracruz in Xalapa. At the age of 19 he was playing with the Symphony Orchestra of Xalapa. At 21 years of age, he left Veracruz to attend the prestigious University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Vienna, Austria. Soon he was playing in the Orchestra of the State Theatre of Baden bei Wien, His work in Vienna took him on voyages around the globe, and he played in Indonesia, China, the USA, Russia, Taiwan, Italy, Spain, Poland, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belgium, the UK, Hong Kong and Greece, as others.
He settled in Catalonia, and was the Artistic Director of the Chamber Orchestra of Pirineus Catalonia, and violinist with the Symphony Orchestra of the Principality of Asturias. During this period, he was also a violinist with the Symphony Orchestra of the Gran Teatro del Liceu of Barcelona.
Upon returning to the Yucatan in 2005, He was the titular and artistic director of the Academic Camerata (Chamber Orchestra) and Coordinator of Internal Services in the area of the Department of Promotion and Development of the Arts of the City Council of the City of Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. In 2006 he was named the Director of the Youth Orchestra of the Yucatan. In 2008, he was made Director of the Symphony Orchestra of the Yucatan, OSY. In January 2011 he was invited by the American Consulate in Yucatán and the
Embassy of the United States of America to attend as a representative of Mexico at the International Conference “Association of Performing Arts Presenters” in the city of New York.
His full list of accomplishments is much longer, and includes his mastery of Spanish, Catalan, German, English and French.
Thank you, Jose Luis, for believing in us, and extending the hand that we have all been waiting for – we are thrilled!
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Coordinador del Programa Kookix Music School
Originario de Mérida, Yucatán, José Luis es el fundador y director de la Academia de Música de Viena en el cercano pueblo de Motul. Su historia es notable, una inspiración del más alto nivel, y tenemos la suerte de contar con él para ayudarnos a refinar y mejorar nuestra experiencia en Kookix Music School.
Un prodigio del violín, José Luis dejó Yucatán solo a la edad de 14 años para ir a estudiar violín en la Escuela de Música de la Universidad Veracruzana en Xalapa. A la edad de 19 años tocaba con la Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa. A los 21 años, dejó Veracruz para asistir a la prestigiosa Universidad de Música y Arte Dramático en Viena, Austria. Pronto tocó en la Orquesta del Teatro Estatal de Baden bei Wien. Su trabajo en Viena lo llevó a viajar alrededor del mundo y tocó en Indonesia, China, Estados Unidos, Rusia, Taiwán, Italia, España, Polonia, Alemania, Francia, República Checa, Suiza, Bélgica, Reino Unido, Hong Kong y Grecia, entre otros.
Se estableció en Cataluña, donde fue Director Artístico de la Orquesta de Cámara de la Cataluña Pirineus y violinista de la Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias. Durante este periodo, también fue violinista de la Orquesta Sinfónica del Gran Teatro del Liceu de Barcelona.
A su regreso a Yucatán en 2005, fue Director Titular y Artístico de la Camerata Académica (Orquesta de Cámara) y Coordinador de Servicios Internos del área de la Dirección de Promoción y Desarrollo de las Artes del Ayuntamiento de la Ciudad de Mérida, Yucatán, México. En 2006 fue nombrado Director de la Orquesta Juvenil de Yucatán. En 2008 fue nombrado Director de la Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán, OSY. En enero de 2011 fue invitado por el Consulado Americano en Yucatán y la
Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América para asistir como representante de México a la Conferencia Internacional “Association of Performing Arts Presenters” en la ciudad de Nueva York.
Su lista completa de logros es mucho más larga, e incluye su dominio del español, catalán, alemán, inglés y francés.
Gracias, José Luis, por creer en nosotros y extendernos la mano que todos estábamos esperando. ¡Estamos encantados!
Maestro Edilberto Demetrio Tzab Chale
Maestro De Trova
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Our beloved Maestro de Trova Yucateca, the musical art form that is unique to the Yucatán, tied closely to its beautiful culture and traditions, Edilberto Demetrio Tzab Chale was born here in Dzemul, and lives now in the neighboring town of Motul, where he makes music and magic. A multi instrumentalist, Don Dili, as he is known, is not only a renowned master of Trova, but he has been the Director of Culture and the Arts in the city of Motul not once, but thrice. He has his own musical group who perform often, and is a teacher in the primary school in Motul. During his latest tenure in this position, Motul was made one of Mexico’s Pueblo Mágicos, an enormous honor. We are deeply grateful that he has come to us to lead us on our new path, that of helping to preserve and share the marvelous music that is Trova Yucateca. Bienvenido y gracias Maestro!
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Nuestro querido Maestro de la Trova Yucateca, el arte musical único de Yucatán, estrechamente ligado a su hermosa cultura y tradiciones, Edilberto Demetrio Tzab Chale, nació aquí en Dzemul y ahora reside en el pueblo vecino de Motul, donde crea música y magia. Don Dili, multiinstrumentista, como se le conoce, no solo es un reconocido maestro de la trova, sino que también ha sido Director de Cultura y Artes de la ciudad de Motul no una, sino tres veces. Tiene su propio grupo musical con presentaciones frecuentes y es maestro en la escuela primaria de Motul. Durante su último periodo en este cargo, Motul fue nombrado Pueblo Mágico de México, un enorme honor. Le agradecemos profundamente que haya llegado a nosotros para guiarnos en nuestro nuevo camino: ayudar a preservar y compartir la maravillosa música de la Trova Yucateca. ¡Bienvenido y gracias, Maestro!
Eladio Feliciano Chale Eb
Maestro de Percussion
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Maestro Eladio is a native of the Yucatan, born in the city of Tixkokob. He has studied over the years with many of the leading percussionists in the city of Merida, including maestro David Martinez, Principal Percussionist with the Symphony Orchestra of the Yucatan, OSY. He is adept at many musical styles, and has performed not only with OSY in the Yucatan, but with visiting musicians from several European countries, as well as having spent time playing and studying in Mexico City.
His work has included instruction and performance with the Youth Orchestra of the Yucatan under the direction of maestro Jose Luis Chan Sabido. He was a teacher of percussion at the Yamaha School of Music in Merida, and in 2021 became a principle of percussion for the State Band of the Yucatan.
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Coming Soon
How to help
Donation Options
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Kookix Music School is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of Kookix Music School must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
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