TAMIU Classical Guitar Ensemble to Perform in Mexico, Colorado

Texas A&M International University's Classical Guitar Ensemble students will take their long hours of practice to the stage when they perform in separate venues in Mexico and Colorado in October.

Dr. Gilberto Soto, chair of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts and Classical Guitar Ensemble director, said the students have been invited to give a concert for the neighboring Colorado communities of Crestone and Canyon City Oct. 3-4.

In addition, the group is the first university-level group to have been invited to perform at the Festival Cervantino of Tamaulipas, which will be held in Nuevo Laredo Oct. 17.

"We are very thrilled to represent TAMIU not only in Texas but also abroad," said Dr. Soto, "We are also looking forward to the concerts in Colorado because they will provide out students with a great performance experience," Dr. Soto said.

The concerts in Colorado will be organized by the respective music societies of the two communities. The invitation for the Guitar Ensemble's appearance came from Sylvia Hazlerig, long-time Laredo music instructor and TAMIU supporter who, upon retirement, has moved to Crestone. Hazlerig also donated a harpsichord to the University earlier this year.

"We are grateful to Ms. Hazlerig for having made these wonderful performance opportunities available to us. At the concerts, we will be playing compositions by Bach, Vivaldi, Couperin, Moncayo, as well as traditional flamenco pieces and instrumental music from Carlos Santana," Soto said.

The TAMIU Classical Guitar Ensemble is a group of energetic guitarists and other instrumentalists. The repertoire studied and performed consists of classical, flamenco, new age, and contemporary music, in addition to selected works written for instruments of the lute and guitar family and original compositions by student composer-arrangers.

Ensemble members include Julio Cano, Diego García, Mariangela Holliday, Marc López, Cynthia Medina, René Méndez, Miguel Saito, Claudia M. Valdéz, Esther Garza, and Jerry Sifuentes.

The Ensemble maintains an active schedule providing musical entertainment for different community events. Some of the events and organizations the Ensemble has performed for this past year include The Laredo Development Foundation, Doctor's Hospital, WBCA Poster Unveiling, Gateway Rotary Paul Harris Award, HEB Feast of Sharing, and UHS Madrigal Dinner.

For further information, please contact Dr. Gilberto Soto at 326-2649, e-mail gsoto @tamiu.edu or visit offices located in the new Center for the Fine and Performing Arts, room 217C.

University office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.