From left: Guillermo Serpas, San Jacinto College guitar instructor, and Guillermo Hernandez, San Jacinto College music composition professor, appeared as guests on Channel 13’s popular Viva Houston show to talk about the College’s Hispanic Heritage Month Concert Series. With them is Viva Houston host, and San Jacinto College alumnus, Erik Barajas. Photo by Rob Vanya, San Jacinto College marketing department.

October concerts to feature Hispanic Heritage Month performances

Rob Vanya, September 25, 2012

San Jacinto College will host music concerts during October that will feature performances by faculty and students from the College, as well as performances by guest artists. All events are free and open to the public, and will be staged at the North, Central, and South campuses.

North Campus concerts will be held at the Dr. Charles Grant Fine Arts Center, 5800 Uvalde Rd., in the North Channel area. Central Campus events will take place at the Dr. Monte Blue Music Building, 8060 Spencer Hwy., in Pasadena. South Campus concerts will take place at the Marie Flickinger Fine Arts Center, 13735 Beamer in Houston.

North Campus events

• Wednesday Oct. 3, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – As part of the College’s Hispanic Heritage Month concert series, Mariachi Los Gallitos, a Mexican Folkloric group composed of trumpet, violins, guitarron (acoustic bass), vihuela (guitar), and female lead singer, will perform. 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 Hispanic Heritage Month concert series concludes with lively Latino selections performed by the Houston Latin jazz group Will Cruz and Universal Rhythm. The group performs World Music and Latin Jazz Fusion, and recently released a new album "Cruz Control." The group is led by Cruz, who sings and plays percussion. Other musicians include John Best on vibes, Johnny Gonzales on flute and saxophone, Anibal Ambert on bass, Pelayo Parlade on piano, and Paolo Castagnoli on drums.

• Friday, Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m. – The Fall Invitational Choral Concert featuring a variety of selections by the North Campus chorale, and the Sons of Orpheus Men’s Chorus, both under the direction of Dr. Edgar Moore, director of the North Campus choral program. A highlight will be performances by the University of Houston Concert Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Betsy Weber.

• Friday, Oct. 19, 12 p.m. – Fine Arts Friday concert featuring the Da Capo String Quartet, a group that includes experienced string musicians who have performed internationally in many different venues, including quartets, trios, duets, and as soloists, and also with many well-known symphony orchestras.

Central Campus events

• Thursday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m. – A wind ensemble concert, under the direction of San Jacinto College music professor Dr. Karen Marston. The repertoire will feature traditional and contemporary music for winds and percussion. Selections will include Whitacre’s “Ghost Train,” Del Borgo’s “Symphonic Suite,” and Holsinger’s “On a Southern Hymnsong.” The wind ensemble is comprised of student musicians and participation is open to all students enrolled at the College, including non-music majors.

• Friday, Oct. 12, 7 p.m. – The Fall Choral Concert, under the direction of music professor Dr. Paul Busselberg, director of the Central Campus choral program, featuring selections by members of the College’s chorale, the men’s chorus, and the women’s chorus. Piano accompaniment will be provided by San Jacinto College music professor Dr. Sarah Spencer.

• Tuesday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. – A concert featuring pianos and percussion, with guest artists Dr. Marcus Reddick, Dr. Brad Meyer, and Drs. John and Jean Roberts. The group will perform Bartok’s “Concerto for Two Pianos and Percussion,” and Bernstein’s “West Side Story.” Bartok’s popular concerto features four musicians, two pianists and two percussionists, who play timpani, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, snare drum, gong, and xylophone. John Roberts is a piano professor at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA). Jean Roberts is a lecturer at SFA and regularly performs in recital and chamber music concerts. Reddick is the director of percussion studies at Mercer University, and the principal timpanist for the Ocmulgee Symphony Orchestra. Meyer is a music instructor at Centre College (Danville, KY), and at Tennessee Technological University (Cookeville, TN).

• Thursday, Oct. 18, 2 p.m. – The Central Campus will host a concert by the student orchestra, under the direction of San Jacinto College music professor Aaron Bielish. The concert will feature selections by Mozart, Martini, Brahms, Salieri, and Mills.

South Campus events

• Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2:30 p.m. – A student recital concert, featuring selections performed by South Campus music students. “This mid-term recital gives students an opportunity to show what they have been working on in private lessons since the beginning of the semester,” commented San Jacinto College music professor Lynne Brandt. “Student recitals also give the students a chance to ‘practice’ performing before their jury examinations at the end of the semester.”

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.