The Holiday Season, perhaps more than any other time of the year, is a season of song. The familiar music fills the airwaves and can be heard in every store as shoppers search for the perfect gift. The music conjures up memories of holiday cheer shared with family and friends, and one can almost smell the warm and spicy scents of the season as the carols and bells ring on the air.
El Paseo Arts Foundation invites you to celebrate the season with the Foundation's seventh annual Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 4th at 2:30 p.m., at The South Padre Island Hilton Garden Inn. The concert is "gift-priced" at $10 per person and includes a complimentary hors d'oeuvres buffet and cash bar. Tickets are available for purchase at the SPI Visitors Center, Paragraphs on Padre Bookstore, Designer Consigner in Port Isabel or online at www.elpaseoarts.org.
The concert will be part of the debut weekend for the Valley Voices, a brand new chorale based out of Los Fresnos, TX. Valley Voices is comprised of area musicians who are dedicated to serving the local community as a means of promoting an understanding and love of choral music. The musical program includes some of the best-loved music of the season like "Carol of the Bells", "The Christmas Song", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "Joy to the World", "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", "Oh Come all Ye Faithful", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and the fabulous "Hallelujah" from Handel's Messiah. Featured soloists are Victoria Vinson, Carolyn Porter, Vivian Contos, Annita White, Ellen Snyder, Ana Nunez, Paul Cardile, Gary Snyder and members of the Laguna Madre Area Community Chorus. Pianists Ruben Rincon Jr., and Mary Hartman will accompany the chorale and the chorus.
Patrick Graves is the Choral Director for Valley Voices and the Choral Director for Los Fresnos High School. Originally from Hot Springs, Arkansas, he received a Bachelor of Arts and Music from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, then went on to receive his Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. While at the ULM School of Visual and Performing Arts, Mr. Graves studied Voice under Dr. Claire Vangelisti, Choral Conducting under Dr. Deborah Chandler, and Orchestral Conducting under Dr. Derle Long. His professional memberships include the American Choral Directors Association, as well as the Texas Music Educators Association.
Valley Voices will make their debut at a Holiday Concert on Saturday, December 3rd, at 7:00 p.m., at the Harlingen Performing Arts Theatre, 1209 Fair Park Rd., in Harlingen. Tickets for this concert are also priced at $10 per person and will be available for purchase at the door or by calling Anita at 956-832-3122.
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Voxare String Quartet
The gifted Voxare String Quartet formed in 2008 and has since received critical praise for its inventive programming, technical prowess, attention to detail, and passionate performances. The New York Times has on numerous occasions chosen Voxare as its Classical Pick of the Week Voxare's unique performing activities earned them Chamber Music America's 2010 ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming. The four individual quartet members have amassed a number of prizes at international competitions. With a repertoire spanning five centuries, Voxare is not afraid to break down the boundaries of classical music; they have made and performed their own transcriptions of popular and rock music and often perform in alternative concert venues. Future season highlights include the release of a Naxos recording of the quartets of Daron Hagen (including a new quartet written for Voxare), and a month-long tour of the UK.
Tickets for the Concert are $25 per person/$20 for members. Tickets will be available for puchase January1, 2012 at the SPI Visitors Center, Paragraphs on Padre Bookstore, Designer Consigner and online at www.elpaseoarts.org.
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El Paseo Welcomes New Sponsor
Thanks to the support of El Paseo member and local Allstate agent Brenda Bailey, El Paseo has received a $1,000 Allstate Foundation Award.
We are very grateful for Allstate's generous support of the arts in the Lower Laguna Madre Area.
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"Drive Creatively"
The grants budget for the Texas Commission on the Arts was reduced by over 50 percent this past legislative session. One source of new funds that the agency can use for the grants budget is revenue from our State of the Arts license plate. The agency is able to use the funds generated by sales and renewals on these specialty license plates immediately. El Paseo has been fortunate to receive several grants from the Arts
Commission. This season a TCA grant is helping us bring a live theatre production of "The Green Rabbit" for the PIISD elementary students. The next time you renew your license plate, please consider supporting the arts in Texas and "Drive Creatively".
El Paseo Arts Foundation is delighted to play sponsor and host for this new musical group and the Foundation's volunteers will be decking the hall for the festive event. Celebrate the joyful spirit of the season with song and give the gift of music to a friend.
Auditions for "The Good Doctor"
Whether you're on stage or backstage, being part of one of our local productions is lots of fun!
Auditions for "The Good Doctor"
Date: Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Paragraphs on Padre Book Store
A working-class man sneezes on the back of his rich boss's head at the opera and can't stop apologizing. A Casanova sets his amorous sights on a friend's wife. Frightened governesses, eager dental students, bankers with gout, fixed-rate prostitutes and freelance faux suicides appear in ''The Good Doctor,'' which is based on a variety of short stories by Russian writer Anton Chekhov. The setting is turn of the century Russia
The play isn't really a typical play at all; instead it is a collection of sketches woven together by the thread of the Writer who acts as narrator. There are 24 different parts, all of which were originally played by five actors. For El Paseo's production, director JoAnn Evans hopes to include many more cast members; some of whom may play in only one scene while others will play multiple roles.
"The Good Doctor" is not a Simon gag fest like his other early plays. There are tender and even wistful moments, ironic twists, and several episodes that border on rough and tumble vaudeville.
There will be a read through for cast members on December 15th and then the cast will have the holidays off to work on lines. Rehearsals will begin on January 3rd. The performance date for the show is February 10th.
The production also requires a great crew so if you don't want to be on stage but would like to be part of the show, El Paseo needs you.
For additional information about the auditions, contact JoAnn Evans at
956-572-3730.