Ernesto Mendoza will celebrate 20 years since his discovery of the theremin with a concert.

Merry MacMasters

La Jornada Newspaper, Friday, June 27, 2025, p. 4

Twenty years ago, Mexican musician Ernesto Mendoza discovered the theremin, a century-old instrument invented by the Russian Leon Theremin, little known in Mexico. It is played literally without touching it . It is played by moving your hand closer and further away from each of the antennas protruding from its central casing. It is the predecessor of today's electronic instruments.

Mendoza took on the mission of making it known throughout the country. "I would like to create a community of Mexican thereminists that would grow and strengthen to promote the instrument ," says the bassist, who has taught classes and workshops, both in person and online, to that end.

I've had students who are just beginning to give their first concerts; however, the theremin community is still very closed. Some people have their own instrument and do some work; however, I'd like to see it taken to a professional level, as is done in other countries , says Mendoza, who has just written a practical guide for beginners, available at https://ernestotheremin.com/ .

To celebrate his anniversary, Mendoza will offer the Moebius concert tomorrow. This time, he will be accompanied by bassist Sibyá Cypsela. The program will feature electronic music composed by Mendoza, designed with the theremin as the main voice . The music is taken from the albums Syntheremin and Theremin, available on digital platforms.

It's music inspired by science fiction, technology, and human consciousness—in positive ways, that is . It also echoes some of my musical influences, like the work of Vangelis, Jean-Michel Jarre, the German band Kraftwerk, and progressive rock .

Since Mendoza gave his first theremin concert in May 2005 at the Federal Electricity Commission's Technological Museum, the instrument's popularity has expanded . In other words, its distribution platforms have proliferated, and there has been widespread interest among younger generations who have used it for different musical genres. It has even been used more in theater, film, and by rock bands. There are thereminists from Russia, the United States, and even Cuba . The musician gave theremin performances in Havana in 2019.

Aside from giving concerts and workshops, Mendoza has participated in a wide range of activities. In 2014, he performed with the National Symphony Orchestra at the National Auditorium, in a concert dedicated to the music of Danny Elfman, singer and composer of the rock group Oingo Boingo, and composer responsible for the soundtracks of Tim Burton's films. This concert was repeated in 2017 at the Mexico City Arena.

Mendoza contributed to the music and sound effects for Soy Frankelda, the first Mexican stop-motion film that premiered at the opening of the Guadalajara Film Festival and will be released commercially in October. The film is from the same producers as the HBO series Los sustos ocultos de Frankelda, in which Mendoza also participated.

The theremin is no longer so unknown in Mexico because of the internet and because rock bands use it for ambiance and effects. The band Gallo Negro has invited me to play it many times .

The Moebius concert will take place tomorrow at 1:00 PM at the Antique Toy Museum (14 Dr. Olvera Street, Doctores neighborhood). On July 31, Mendoza will perform at the Julián Carrillo Hall at Radio UNAM.