18th Annual “Guitarras de Navidad” Recital at TAMIU Tuesday, Nov. 27

The classic sounds of seasonal guitar strings will strum again at the Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) 18th annual “Guitarras de Navidad” Concert, Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts (CFPA) Recital Hall.

General admission donation is $5 to support student scholarships.  Student admission is free.

 Sponsored by the TAMIU College of Arts and Sciences and the department of Fine and Performing Arts, the musical selection draws from the sounds of the season and features the University’s Classical Guitar Ensemble, directed by Dr. Gilberto D. Soto, professor of Music and Guitar.

Among the selections the Ensemble will perform are “Canon in D” by Johann Pachebel, “Largo from Concerto in G” by Antonio Vivaldi and popular classics like “Hotel California” by Felder, Frey and Henley, among others. Special guitar arrangements of the popular Christmas pieces “The Little Drummer Boy,” “Greensleeves” and “Angels We Have Heard of High,” are also on the evening’s repertoire.  

Also included is a special performance by Dr. Colin Campbell, University Organist and assistant professor of Music, who will accompany the Ensemble. The Ensemble also will be joined by the TAMIU Chamber Singers, directed by Dana Crabtree, instructor of Music and Voice.

Together, the combined musical ensembles will perform “Ave Verum Corpus” by W. A. Mozart.

“’Guitarras de Navidad’ is one of the oldest music concerts sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences and the department of Fine and Performing Arts. We are very proud to continue this annual musical tradition,” said Dr. Soto.

Members of the TAMIU Guitar Ensemble are Samuel Cantú, Jorge D. Charur, Humberto Garza, Deborah Gavilanes, Joanna C. Gunnoe, Rene Herrera, Mauricio J. Lerma, Kassandra N. López, José Luis Macias, Stephanie Mendoza, Joceline Mireles, Oscar Ortegón, Norbert Ortiz, Francisco Pedraza, Juan E. Ramírez, Jr., Orlando Reyes and Sara Romero-Chong.

Members of the TAMIU Chamber Singers include Jorge D. Charur, Joanna C. Gunnoe, Heriberto Jiménez, Ayesha McCaulley, Juan Osorio, Crystal Peralta, Danny Pérez, Patsy Rodríguez, Sara Romero-Chong, Danielle Sánchez and Leslie Suarez.

The TAMIU Classical Guitar Ensemble is a music performing class comprised of mostly music majors and minors, as well as other instrumentalists who share experience in reading and performing guitar literature for instrumental ensembles. The Ensemble continually aims to enrich lives of students and the community for many years by offering cultural programs, concerts and other events at no cost. 

For additional information, please contact Dr. Soto at 956.326.3046, or email gsoto@tamiu.edu.

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