ECOSYSTEM
Guaymas, city and port, southwestern Sonora.
The 2026 Jazz Crossing the Border Tour continues in Guaymas, a coastal city where the rhythm of jazz meets the rhythm of hope. Against the backdrop of the sea, the sound of saxophones, trumpets, and drums fills the air — not from concert halls, but from classrooms filled with children whose dreams are bigger than their circumstances.
Here in Guaymas, more than 150 children and young adults, ages 6 to 20, study under the guidance of 15 dedicated music instructors who give their time, heart, and talent to nurturing the next generation. Many of these students come from families with limited resources, yet their commitment to music and education reflects a spirit that cannot be measured by material wealth. They play with joy, they learn with determination, and they carry within them the hope of a brighter future for their community.
Through Jazz Crossing the Border, our mission is to give these young musicians opportunities to learn, perform, and connect through the language of jazz — a language that transcends culture and class, and speaks directly to the soul. For them, music is not just a pastime; it is a pathway. A path to confidence, creativity, and connection — and a tool for transformation that lifts not only the students but the city of Guaymas itself.
As they improvise, laugh, and perform alongside our visiting artists from Arizona, something powerful happens — barriers disappear. There is no “us” and “them,” only the shared rhythm of discovery. Every note becomes a bridge, every melody a moment of understanding.
“Working with these students is the best part of the tour,” says Doc Jones, founder of the International Jazz Day AZ Foundation. “They remind us that jazz isn’t just about sound — it’s about hope, discipline, and unity. When you see these young people play, you see the future. You see possibility.”
In Guaymas, that possibility shines brighter every day. And as the tour moves on, the echoes of their music — and their courage — continue to inspire everyone who hears them.
Would you like me to create a matching Spanish version next (so you can send it to your Sonoran partners and press contacts)? It would also make a great bilingual feature for your website’s Jazz Crossing the Border page.
Fray Ivo Youth Orchestra | Bellas Artes Guaymas
Fray Ivo Toneck was the builder, inspiration, and leader of Bellas Artes Guaymas. Bellas Artes, the center of music in Guaymas, has established many musical innovations within the City since 1996. A better life for underprivileged youth is at the heart and soul of Bellas Artes accomplishments.
Bellas Artes conceived El Mariachi Guadalupano, the City’s first mariachi band in the year 1996. They assembled La Banda Marchante, a 65-piece marching band. Bellas Artes taught chorus, instructed classical and regional music along with the Folkloric Ballet Group which included modern dance. Fray Ivo is credited and was responsible for the Esperanza Azteca Orchestra originally locating in Guaymas in 2013, and he managed the orchestra for its’ first three crucial start-up years. In addition, Fray Ivo was the mastermind behind the $3.5 million dollar Guaymas Music Conservatory which has transformed the face of Guaymas. Bellas Artes currently features the fabulous Fray Ivo Youth Orchestra.
In honor of Fray Ivo Toneck, the City of Guaymas engraved his name onto the Civic Auditorium, the street alongside Bellas Artes, and the Music Conservatory at the waterfront just across from the statue of “El Pescador.” Guaymas has been blessed with the Franciscans’ construction talents and cultural contributions since he arrived in 1985. Fray Ivo passed away at the age of 92 years, February 29, 2020 leaving behind an impressive legacy and music that both continue.