Public invited to free ‘Fiesta Mexicana’ performance

NASHVILLE — TPAC Education invites the public to “Fiesta Mexicana,” a lively concert featuring the music of Sones de M?xico Ensemble on Sun., November 13, at 3 p.m. in Andrew Jackson Hall at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, with activities in the lobby beginning at 2 p.m. Seats will be available that day on a “first come, first served” basis.

“Fiesta Mexicana” is a special “Family Field Trip” in addition to the ensemble’s appearances at TPAC and outreach visits in the community for the annual “Season for Young People” presented through the education program Humanities Outreach in Tennessee (HOT).

“TPAC Education has sponsored several performances to the public in different formats, and it’s thrilling to us when this happens outside of the school day so whole families have the opportunity to attend the kind of program we’re offering to students,” said Roberta Ciuffo, TPAC?s senior vice president for institutional advancement.

Sones de M?xico Ensemble specializes in son, a rich music tradition with regional styles, including huapango, gustos, chilenas, son jarocho and the roots of mariachi music. The talented Chicago-based group works its way through a collection of over 25 folk string, percussion, and wind instruments with four-part vocal arrangements and dance demonstrations, recreating the atmosphere of a traditional fandango (dance fiesta). The ensemble’s cross-cultural view of music links son to the diverse ethnic roots of Mexico’s mestizo culture: Native American, Spanish, and the often-overlooked influence of black music.

“Apart from being incredibly gifted singers and instrumentalists with wonderful personalities and stage presence, the Sones de M?xico artists know how to communicate the origins of their music to the audience,” Ciuffo said. “All together, it’s a wonderful combination of history, folklore and music.”

For more information on this free performance or the HOT season, please visit www.tpac.org or call 615/782-4000.

The Tennessee Performing Arts Center is a private, non-profit corporation dedicated to providing and supporting the presentation of the performing arts to the citizens of Tennessee. Its four stages are home to Broadway in Nashville at TPAC, Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, The Nashville Symphony, Tennessee Repertory Theatre and a variety of special engagements. TPAC administers one of the largest and most comprehensive arts-in-education programs in the United States, offering learning opportunities for children and adults. The organization has served more than 1.4 million students from pre-school to high school over the past two decades. For more information, visit the Web site, www.tpac.org.