“Solero” includes from left, Irma La Paloma, Jeremy Garcia, and Chris Howard. The group will perform lively flamenco songs and dance at the Sept. 21 concert at San Jacinto College North. Photo by Andrea Vasquez, San Jacinto College marketing department.

Hispanic concert series a highlight of fall concerts

Rob Vanya, September 5, 2012

PASADENA, Texas – San Jacinto College will host music concerts during September and October that will feature highly-regarded local and international musicians and dancers. All events are free and open to the public, and will be staged at the North and Central campuses.

North Campus concerts will be held at the Dr. Charles Grant Fine Arts Center, 5800 Uvalde in the North Channel area. Central Campus events will take place at the Dr. Monte Blue Music Building, 8060 Spencer Hwy., in Pasadena.

• Thursday, Sept. 20, 7 p.m. – The Central Campus will host the acclaimed Houston ensemble Ars Lyrica, under the direction of founder Dr. Matthew Dirst, in a performance of “It Takes Two.” The concert will feature Bach’s “Brandenburg” Concerto, Haydn’s Concerto in F Major for violin and harpsichord, and other works for two or more soloists. Soloists will include Canadian violinist Marc Destrubé, Dutch recorder virtuoso Paul Leenhouts, Kathryn Montoya performing on oboe and recorder, and Dirst on harpsichord. Ars Lyrica (which means “lyric art”) performs music from the 17th and 18th centuries, on period instruments and with careful attention to period style and context. The Grammy–nominated ensemble performs regularly at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, and has performed at numerous national venues, including the Boston Early Music Festival.

• Friday, Sept. 21, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. – The North Campus will launch the Hispanic Heritage Month Concert Series with a show by “Solero,” a group that performs lively flamenco songs and dance. Featured artists of Solero include Jeremy Garcia on guitar, Irma La Paloma who sings and dances, and Chris Howard on percussion. Garcia founded and directs the guitar program at San Jacinto College South and maintains a busy performance schedule as co-founder of Solero and as a guitar soloist. La Paloma is a noted flamenco singer, composer, and dancer. She serves as community coordinator and co-director of the Houston Spanish and Flamenco Festival, in collaboration with San Jacinto College and the Consulate General of Spain. Howard is a versatile percussionist, skilled in a wide range of musical styles, including Bulgarian, Turkish, West African, Spanish, Cuban, Funk, and Jazz.

• Tuesday, Sept. 25, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – The North Campus continues the Hispanic Heritage Month Concert Series with a concert by “Sur.” The group includes five musicians who perform a variety of flamenco and traditional Latin American folk music featuring such instruments as guitars, pan flutes, violins, and percussion. Sur was a headline musical group during the Houston International Festival held in April 2012.

• Wednesday Oct. 3, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – The North Campus continues the Hispanic Heritage Month Concert Series with a concert by Mariachi Los Gallitos, a Mexican Folkloric group composed of trumpet, violins, guitarron (acoustic bass), vihuela (guitar) and female lead singer. The classically trained performers have earned wide popularity and acclaim through their unique combination of technical and theatrical abilities. Awards earned by Los Gallitos include the “Pura Vida” Hispanic Music Award as Houston’s best Mariachi group; and the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo’s Mariachi State Championship.

• Thursday, Oct. 11, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – The North Campus continues the Hispanic Heritage Month Concert Series with a concert by a Salsa group, under the direction of San Jacinto College alumni Richard Saldivar. The group will perform a variety of Latin styles (cha cha, merengue, Columbian cumbia, etc.). Saldivar is a former student of San Jacinto College and is a skilled performer on several instruments.

San Jacinto College offers a wide range of music courses and degree options, as well as private music lessons at all three campuses. For more information about fine arts programs at San Jacinto College, please visit arts.sanjac.edu.

About San Jacinto College

Surrounded by monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, for more than 50 years. The Achieving the Dream Leader College is committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of 30,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate options, including university transfer and career preparation. Students also benefit from the College’s job training programs, renowned for meeting the needs of growing industries in the region. San Jacinto College graduates contribute nearly $630 million each year to the Texas workforce. San Jacinto College. Your Goals. Your College.

For more information about San Jacinto College, please call 281-998-6150, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.