Orchestra Santa Monica will highlight the musical contributions of Mexican composers and performers to the Southern California landscape at its second concert of its 2013-2014 season this Sunday, Feb. 23.
The concert entitled “North & South of the Border” will be held at 3:30 pm.
The Orchestra, under Music Director Allen Robert Gross, will perform this concert at its intimate concert venue at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Santa Monica.
The program features soloists Ricardo Escobar (guitar) and Gary Woodward (flute).
Escobar is one of Mexico’s most promising young guitarists while Woodward is one of the area’s prominent flutists. They will be featured in Arturo Márquez’ captivating Danzón No. 3.
Escobar has been lauded by fabled guitarist Pepe Romero as “un magnifico guitaristta” and as “a promising young artist…with poise and panache” by Soundboard Magazine.
The recipient of several awards, including first prize at both the ASTA Solo Competition and the Sigma Alpha Iota Competition, Escobar began his international performance career in Italy with an invitation to perform at the Mediterranean Guitar festival in 2006, and has since performed at concert halls and festivals throughout Europe, the United States, and Mexico.
A native of Mexico, he is currently finishing a doctoral degree in Guitar Performance at USC.
Additionally, OSM will present the North American premiere of “Las Primas del General Calles” by Mexican composer Enrique González Medina.
Originally from Tijuana, Medina’s compositions are strongly rooted within his Hispanic heritage and family experiences.
His work, “Las Primas” reflects these qualities.
“The music should be very appealing to the musicians performing it, as well as the audience listening to it,” Medina said. “It should be music that musicians can’t wait to play and that audiences can’t wait to hear.” The composer will be at the concert to introduce his work.
Maestro Gross said Sunday’s special program highlighted the cultural diversity and uniqueness of Southern California.
“We are honored to present a North American premiere to the West Side community, and feature the wonderful talent of the area’s Hispanic culture,” Maestro Gross said.
The program opens with Silvestre Revueltas’ Ocho por radio, an antic deconstruction of mariachi music gestures, and to continue its “cross-border’ theme, concludes with Mendelssohn’s popular “Italian” Symphony.
To prepare the festivities, a mariachi group led by Maira Solis will perform outside the church prior to the concert.
Admission for adults is $20, seniors $15, and students $10.
Mount Olive Lutheran Church is located at 1343 Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica.
For more information, call 310.525.7618 or visit OrchestraSantaMonica.org.
