The Directorate of Cultural Outreach organizes the Inter-Polytechnic Piano Competition at the Escuela Nacional de Medicina y Homeopatía.

To promote artistic expression and recognize the talent across the academic units of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), the Directorate of Cultural Outreach held the 2026 Inter-Polytechnic Piano Competition. The event brought together talented, disciplined and artistically sensitive upper-secondary students, who showcased the piano’s expressive range and musical richness.

The “August 18” Auditorium at the Escuela Nacional de Medicina y Homeopatía (ENMH) hosted the musical event, featuring young performers from several Centros de Estudios Científicos y Tecnológicos (CECyT). Each participant performed a required piece, La Patria, by Manuel María Ponce, considered the father of Mexican musical nationalism, as well as a piece of their own choice.

The three finalists were Androus Aly Flores Castro, from CECyT 9 “Juan de Dios Bátiz,” who performed Gavota by Manuel M. Ponce; Santiago Said García Nieto, who performed Cordelia by Juan Arenosa; and Ximena Hernández Alonso, who performed Debussy’s Clair de Lune. The latter two students are from CECyT 11 “Wilfrido Massieu.” The final rankings will be announced on December 4, when the 2026 Inter-Polytechnic Competitions conclude.

Ángel Eduardo Bernal Hernández, a student at CECyT 9, received an honorable mention. Other participants included Eliud Jafet Calvo Dector, from the same school, as well as José Martín de Jesús Martínez and José Mariano Chávez Cisneros, from CECyT 11.

The judging panel included Leonel Román Crespo García, who holds a degree in Musical Performance from the Ixtapaluca campus of the Escuela de Bellas Artes del Estado de México. He currently coordinates its Music Department and teaches subjects including solfège, harmony, musical analysis and piano.

The panel also included Maktsil Ijnalik Acuña, who has been a member of the Ensamble de México (Bellas Artes Early Music Baroque Orchestra) since 2009, serving as principal percussionist and assistant timpanist. Acuña has also served as section leader and soloist with several orchestras, collaborating with renowned Mexican and international artists.

The music educators praised the Polytechnic students’ talent, musical fluency and stage presence. They encouraged the performers to approach music with love and passion so they could convey those emotions and feelings to their audiences.