Close associates of the renowned Cuban musician and educator, José Antonio Méndez Valencia, who leads the Chamber Choir of Matanzas, reported his disappearance on Tuesday and sought public assistance to locate him. Ivette Burgois Lozano, the director of the Matanzas Youth Choir, raised the alarm on social media, noting that Méndez Valencia was last seen wearing a red shirt and blue jeans.
"Please, this is José Antonio Méndez, the director of the Matanzas Choir. He's missing!" Burgois Lozano wrote in a Facebook post, which included photos of the choir director. She urged anyone who might see him to hold him and contact Lilian Padrón or Vanessa Herrera at the provided phone numbers.
Many people, including visual artist Adrián Socorro Suárez, joined in the appeal. Suárez cautioned that "the maestro has orientation issues and can easily get lost or fail to recognize familiar surroundings."
The disappearance of Méndez Valencia has deeply concerned artists, students, friends, and community members, who have shared alerts on social media to expedite his safe return. At 74 years old, Méndez Valencia is regarded as one of Cuba’s most distinguished choir directors. He graduated from the National School of Art in Havana in 1980 and earned a doctorate in Music from the Franz Liszt School of Music in Weimar, Germany, in 1990.
He has taught choral conducting at the Matanzas Music Conservatory and the Higher Institute of Art in Havana. Since 1986, he has led the Chamber Choir of Matanzas, the Evangelical Theological Seminary Choir in Matanzas, and the Matanzas Children's Choir, as noted in the online encyclopedia Ecured.
Méndez Valencia has been the recipient of several honors, including the José White Award in Matanzas in 2011. The city government of Santa Clara declared him a Distinguished Guest in 2016, awarded him the 330th-anniversary distinction of the city’s founding in 2019, and gave him the Key to the City in 2023.
Case Update
People close to the Cuban musician have confirmed that he has been found and expressed gratitude for the public’s help in locating him. The active involvement of the community has been instrumental in finding missing individuals in Cuba, including the elderly or those with mental health conditions.
Due to the absence of official state channels to disseminate such cases, families often turn to digital platforms to request aid and organize community searches. However, Cuban authorities have yet to resolve cases like that of young Maydeleisis Rosales Rodríguez, who has been missing for over four years in Central Havana; Karildi Caridad Marín, last seen on December 14, 2023, in Cerro; and Doraiky Águila Vázquez, who disappeared on March 15 in Havana.
Community Efforts in Locating Missing Persons in Cuba
How was José Antonio Méndez Valencia found?
Méndez Valencia was located thanks to the swift mobilization and assistance of the community, facilitated through social media alerts and public cooperation.
What challenges do families face in finding missing people in Cuba?
Families face significant challenges due to the lack of official state channels for disseminating information about missing persons, often relying on digital platforms and community searches.
Who is José Antonio Méndez Valencia?
José Antonio Méndez Valencia is a highly respected Cuban choir director and educator, leading the Chamber Choir of Matanzas and having received numerous honors for his contributions to music.