Conjunto Celebration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHAT:

Conjunto Celebration:
Reconocimiento, Pláticas, y Música
A Community Residency Program

FEATURING:

Mario Saenz, Sr., renowned bajo sexto musician
Ernesto Guerra, acclaimed accordion player
Rosa & Joe Pérez, members of the popular duet Rumbo al’ Anacua
Roel Sandoval Flores, prominent Valley artist, songwriter, and instrument maker

WHEN:

May 9 to May 21, 2005

WHERE:

La Joya, Edcouch-Elsa, Peñitas, Palmview, San Benito, Santa Rosa, and El Ranchito

For schedules and more information regarding this event, please contact:

Amancio Chapa, Director Fine Arts Department La Joya High School
956-580-5160, a.chapa7@ljisd.esc1.net
Cristina Ballí, Director Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center
956-361-0110, cristinaballi@yahoo.com
or visit the Texas Folklife Resources website: http://www.texasfolklife.org

All events are free and open to the public.

From May 9 to May 21 Hidalgo and Cameron Counties will host an exciting cultural arts program that celebrates Mexican American culture, art, and musical traditions. The Community Residency event will include musical performances, workshops, exhibits, jam sessions, and public talks in the towns of La Joya, Edcouch-Elsa, Peñitas, Palmview, San Benito, Santa Rosa, and El Ranchito. This two-week-long event is presented and organized by Texas Folklife Resources, the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, and the La Joya Independent School District, and is made possible in part through funding from national and statewide organizations including National Endowment for the Arts and Texas Commission on the Arts.

This extended Residency features several local artists. Bajo sexto musician Mario Saenz, Sr., accordionist Ernesto Guerra, artist Roel Flores, and Joe and Rosa Pérez from the popular duet Rumbo al’ Anacua will present and discuss the “Conjunto” tradition at schools, nursing homes, cultural arts centers, local restaurants, senior centers, and other venues. Through their performances these artists will help members of the community explore the meaning and symbolism behind Conjunto music, and the lessons of individual creativity, family unity, cultural identity, and community celebration embedded in the Conjunto tradition.

About the Artists:

Mario Saenz, Sr. and his group, Los Gavilanes de Mario Saenz, achieved great popularity in the late 1950s and went on to produce four hit albums, seven hit 45’s, and nine CDs. Mr. Saenz has made tremendous contributions to the musical traditions of the Valley including conjunto, corridos, rancheras, and boleros.

Ernesto Guerra is known across the Rio Grande Valley as one of the most talented accordionists in the conjunto and polka music traditions. His extraordinary skill has earned him the nickname of “El Sicodélico.” In 1959 he formed his own group, Conjunto del Valle, which launched Mr. Guerra on a productive recording career.

Roel Flores has established himself as a recognized visual artist and musician in South Texas. Both his art and his music deeply reflect the experience of migrant farm workers. The public can view his art on display at the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center on May 21 for the final event of the Residency Program. In 2000, Mr. Flores’ artwork brought him recognition when the Smithsonian Institute exhibited his work in the Washington D.C. National Mall Folklife Festival. Subsequently, his work went on tour as part of the “El Rio” traveling exhibit, also produced by the Smithsonian Institute.

Rosa and Joe Pérez are educators, cultural activists and self-taught musicians. Their duet, “Rumbo al’ Anacua,” blends the style of old música ranchera, contemporary pieces of original folk music, and blues, all of which reflect the rhythm of life in deep South Texas. This dynamic couple also produces and hosts North of the Border, a public radio program of Mexican roots music and socio-historical commentary. In addition, Joe and Rosa coordinate a monthly writers’ forum. For the Residency Program, they will conduct creative writing exercises on community histories and traditional song writing with local students.

The Gran Celebración or final event for this Residency will take place on Saturday, May 21, at the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center in San Benito from 3:00 to 8:00 pm. We invite the community to join us for a full day of spirited performances, public discussions, cultural activities, workshops, and art exhibits.

The extended event in the Rio Grande Valley is one of several Community Residencies scheduled throughout Texas for spring of 2005. These Residency Programs aim to raise the visibility of the extraordinary local talent that exists in rural communities throughout Texas and to educate the public about Texas folk traditions. Texas Folklife Resources is a statewide non-profit cultural organization that serves both Texas folk artists and their audiences by helping to present and promote a diverse and living artistic heritage for all Texans.

For a schedule of events for the Cameron and Hidalgo Counties Community Residency Program, please contact Amancio Chapa at 956-580-5160 (a.chapa7@ljisd.esc1.net) or Cristina Ballí at 956-361-0110 (cristinaballi@yahoo.com), or see the TFR website at www.texasfolklife.org. For more information on Texas Folklife Resources, contact Michelle Wibbelsman at (512) 371-9128 (mwibbelsman@yahoo.com) or Nancy Bless at (512) 441-9255 (texasfolklife@bizaustin.rr.com).

Cristina Balli
Director of Programming & Development
Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center
P.O. Box 471
225 Stenger Street
San Benito, Texas 78586
(956) 361-0110