Young Pianists and Singers Recital at TAMIU Dec. 21

The newly-formed Laredo Youth Choir (LYC), will highlight the Young Pianists and Singers Recital on Tuesday, Dec. 21, at 7:30 p.m., at Texas A&M International University’s Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall.

Admission is free of charge and open to the public.

The LYC, an organization that gives voice to children ages 6-13, will be making its debut. The evening’s singing performances will feature a broad variety of choral works for children’s voices and includes guest performances by young piano students, age 6-18, performing piano solos from both classical and contemporary repertoire.

The young pianists are instructed by TAMIU’s Dr. Fritz Gechter, associate professor of Music/Piano and Juventino Lozano, TAMIU music major, piano.

The LYC will perform Francis Scott Key’s “The Star-Spangled Banner,” Laura Farnell’s arrangement of “On This Still, Silent Night” and the J. Paul Williams and Craig Curry offering “Fa La La La La.”

Dana Crabtree, TAMIU voice faculty with the College of Arts and Sciences’ department of fine and performing arts, said the LYC, housed at TAMIU, is a new opportunity for youngsters to raise their voices in song.

“We wanted to create a nurturing environment for children here at the University where an emphasis on healthy singing and the development of musical skills is encouraged through the teaching and performance of a wide variety of choral literature. It’s been a joy to develop and the young students clearly relish the opportunity to learn and perform,” she said.

Crabtree and Suzanne Ramo serve as LYC’s artistic director and managing director, respectively. It is conducted by TAMIU music majors Stephanie Solis, conductor and Raquel Gonzalez, assistant conductor and Luz Chavez, pianist.

For additional information, contact Crabtree at the department of fine and performing arts, 956.326.3040 or e-mail dcrabtree@tamiu.edu

TAMIU fine and performing arts information is also available on the University’s social sites 0n Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, while a dedicated arts calendar with reminder capability is located at http://www.tamiu.edu/coas/fpa/coe.shtml

The University will close for the holidays at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 23 and reopen on Monday, Jan. 3, 2011.

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