Seventh Annual ‘Guitarras de Navidad’ Recital Sunday, Dec. 7

Sleigh bells will ring and guitar strings strum at the Seventh Annual “Guitarras de Navidad” at Texas A&M International University Sunday, Dec. 7 at 4:00 p.m. in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts (CFPA) Recital Hall.

Sponsored by the TAMIU College of Arts and Sciences Department of Fine and Performing Arts and co-sponsored by the Women's City Club and the County of Webb, this event is free and open to the public.

The program draws from the sounds of the season and features the TAMIU Classical Guitar Ensemble, directed by Dr. Gilberto D. Soto, professor of Music Education.

“Among the brand new selections the ensemble will perform are special guitar arrangements of ‘Eine Kleine Natchmusik’ by W.A. Mozart, ‘Overture from Carmen’ by Georges Bizet, ‘Arabian Dance’ and ‘Waltz of the Flowers’ from the ‘Nutcracker Suite’ by P. I. Tchaikovsky, ‘Granada’ by Isaac Albeniz and others,” said Dr. Soto.

The ensemble will also present special Spanish arrangements of popular Christmas classics such as “Jingle Bells,” “The Little Drummer Boy,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” and “Silent Night,” which will include special performances by guitar and voice students from Soto Academy of Music.

Members of the ensemble are Billy Thatcher, Aileen González, Salvador Bella, Audrey L. Esparza, Joshua D. Orr, Juan M. Peña, Alfredo J. Barrera, Israel Cruz , Miguel A. Durán, Miyuki Oshima, Joe Guerra, Miguel A. Saito, Marisela Gonzalez, Ricardo A. Gonzalez, Manuel Torres González, Jorge García and Joseph Salinas.

For more information, please contact Dr. Soto at 326.3046, e-mail gsoto@tamiu.edu or visit offices in CFPA 216A.

For a list of upcoming arts events, click on tamiu.edu/coas/fpa/coe or for a recorded weekly calendar, please call 326.ARTS (2787).

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu