Fernando Alephsus Valdés is a true Mexican mariachi in Transylvania — “Mexicano de nacimiento, Ardelean de corazón” (Mexican by birth, Transylvanian at heart).
A multi-instrumentalist, he holds professional studies in musical composition and production. In 2015 and 2016, he completed a composer residency for the “Cantaré” program supported by VocalEssence in Minnesota, USA. He has composed music for two feature films, worked as a music teacher with over ten years of experience, and is also a voice artist.
Fernando has performed as a musician on cruise ships and in luxury hotels and restaurants in France, England, and Dubai. In addition to his musical career, he is also a photographer and videographer.
For the past five years, he has been living in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, where he founded the musical group Son de Napoca alongside Romanian and Latin American musicians. He has performed in various venues and restaurants across the country, either as a soloist or together with his daughter, Arwen Valdés, who studies orchestral conducting and composition at the Gheorghe Dima National Music Academy.
He offers a repertoire that blends the most traditional mariachi pieces from Mexico with selections from contemporary Mexican music.
Beyond performance, Fernando’s artistic mission carries the vibrant spirit of Mexican culture — a culture where music is not merely entertainment, but a living expression of identity, history, and emotion. Mariachi embodies celebration and nostalgia, love and longing, courage and devotion. From the powerful resonance of the guitarrón to the brilliance of trumpets and the warmth of violins, Mexican music tells stories that transcend borders. Through his work in Romania, Fernando builds a bridge between Mexico and Transylvania, sharing the richness, color, and soul of Mexican musical heritage with new audiences, keeping tradition alive while allowing it to evolve in dialogue with other cultures.
Between tradition and emotion, music becomes a living bridge between worlds, resonating with longing and joy. Cast: Fernando Alephsus Valdés, Arwen Valdés, Sinca Mirela Eugenia
