Final notes

If at the beginning of the semester you hoped to attend one of the many cultural events hosted at the university but didn’t have the time, now is your last chance.

The remaining performances of the semester are part of the program’s three different series, the Student Ensemble Series, the Faculty Artist Series and the Guest Artist Series.

“I think that the great thing about Patron of the Arts on both campuses is that there really is something for everyone,” said Catherine Compton, program director of Patron of the Arts. “There’s just a great range of performances that people can attend, so no matter where your interest lies, there’s really something that everyone can enjoy.”

Members of the Bravo Opera Company will perform “Street Scene,” an American opera by German composer Kurt Weill with lyrics by the famous American playwright Langston Hughes at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday in the
Texas Southmost College Arts Center.

“It has some music theater, some jazz, some blues and also, of course, traditional opera influences,” Compton said.
Following the opera, the last event in the series will be a performance by the Brownsville Sinfonia, under the direction of School of Music Lecturer Betul Soykan, of Symphony No. 5 in E minor by Russian composer Modest Ilyich Tchaikovsky, set to take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the TSC Arts Center.

“It’s definitely a master work that will be very impressive and that will be a great opportunity for students of all ages to come and experience,” Compton said.

Admission for both performances is $5 for students with ID.

A performance by pianist Juan Pablo Andrade, an associate professor, will close the semester’s Faculty Performance Series at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the TSC Arts Center.

“Andrade is performing works by Schubert, Debussy, Chopin, Haydn, and then some traditional Chinese music, and this is in preparation for some upcoming performances in China,” Compton said.

Andrade will travel to China from May 10-21 for concerts in eight cities in the Zhejiang province.

Mariachi Aztlán will perform along with guest groups from Port Isabel and Los Fresnos high schools.

“They are … nationally award-winning ensembles,” Compton said. “So it’s a great opportunity to hear that group.”
Two more performances are left this semester on the Guest Artist Series.

Kevin Mombo, a professor of music at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, will perform marimba music at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex Auditorium in Edinburg and at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the TSC Arts Center in Brownsville.

“He will be doing some clinics with our percussion students and then judging the [Brownsville Marimba Festival and Competition] and the whole weekend ends with a big multi-marimba performance outside of the TSC Arts Center … at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 1st,” Compton noted.

PROJECT Trio, a high-energy chamber music ensemble comprised of three virtuosic composer/performers, a bass player, a flute player and a cellist from Brooklyn, N.Y., will perform in the TSC Arts Center.

“We’re really lucky to have them on this series,” Compton said. “It’s gonna [be] a fantastic concert, and … before the concert they’re going to be giving a master class on improvisation in music.”

PROJECT Trio’s free improv class will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Red Room of the TSC Arts Center and their performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. May 4.

In addition to the multi-series performances, Compton said that about a dozen student recitals are coming up.
“Those are the best deal in town because they’re all free of charge,” she said. “It looks like between now and May 4th there are a few singers, a guitar player, percussion, woodwind players, some brass instruments. There’s all sorts of great performances and repertoire coming up.”

Sergio Hernandez will be one of those student performers.

“The program is gonna consist of practically every era of the music,” the music education senior said.
Hernandez has high hopes for his senior recital.

“There’s just a great range of performances that people can attend, so no matter where your interest lies, there’s really something that everyone can enjoy,” Compton said.