The UTRGV Patron of the Arts series will offer many unique performances students can enjoy while taking a break from studying for finals.
Patron of the Arts is a series of performances that take place throughout the year for the students, staff and the Rio Grande Valley community’s entertainment. It was started in 1984 by Texas Southmost College in Brownsville. The program provides the community and students with learning and enrichment opportunities, according to patron.utrgv.edu.
[Patron of the Arts performances] are exciting,” said Dahlia Guerra, associate vice president for Public Art. “There’s a lot of variety. It’s a great opportunity for [students and the community] to see what’s happening in the arts, both in music and dance, and it’s just to make them happy about being alive because that’s what the arts do for you.”
One of the upcoming performances will be Handel’s “Messiah,” presented by the UTRGV Master Chorale, Brownsville Festival Chorus, UTRGV Chamber Orchestra and guest soloists. It will be conducted by Sean Taylor, an assistant professor of music. The “Messiah” is an oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel. Songs from the oratorio have become a representation of Christmas.
“The expected outcome of the performance is to engage the community and give a performance of the masterwork in the [Rio Grande] Valley for the local audience,” Taylor said.
Other performances scheduled this month are Flautista Navidad Carol & Candlelight, UTRGV Trombone Choir, An Evening of Flute and An Evening with the Ballet Folklórico de la Universidad Veracruzana.
“It’s a good program, the Patron of the Arts program, in that you get a lot of different genres of music,” said Tony Casas, senior program coordinator for the Edinburg Performing Arts Complex. “You get jazz, you get classical music, you get opera, you get mariachi. Here is a chance to learn about a lot of different types of music. … I think it’s a good part of your overall education.”
Handel’s “Messiah” will be performed at 7 tonight in the Texas Southmost College Performing Arts Center in Brownsville. General admission is $10 and $5 for senior citizens and students.
Flautista Navidad Carol & Candlelight, performed by the UTRGV Flute Studio, will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the UTRGV Music, Science & Learning Center Multipurpose Hall (Room 1.217) in Brownsville and Wednesday in the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex Auditorium in Edinburg. Admission is free.
The UTRGV Trombone Choir will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday in the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex Auditorium in Edinburg and Dec. 9 in the TSC Performing Arts Center in Brownsville. Admission is free.
An Evening of Flute will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday at the UTRGV Music, Science & Learning Center Multipurpose Hall in Brownsville. Admission is free.
An Evening with the Ballet Folklórico de la Universidad Veracruzana is scheduled at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Performing Arts Complex in Edinburg and at the same time Sunday in the TSC Performing Arts Center. General admission is $20 and $15 for students and senior citizens.
For more information, visit patron.utrgv.edu.
