HOUSTON, TX. (Top40 Charts/ MECA) - Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA) and Houston's Foundation for
Modern Music (FMM) will host a concert of works by a new generation of cutting-edge Mexican composers on Friday, January 19, at 8 p.m., at MECA's Auditorium, 1900 Kane Street. Performers include renowned pianists Rodolfo Morales and Alejandro Vela with cellists
Victoria Bass and Emmanuelle Beaulieu Bergeron, all graduates or students of the Juilliard School in New York. The program will feature works by current Mexican composers Samuel Zyman, Jose Elizondo, and
Carlos Sanchez Gutierrez.
Mr. Vela began his piano studies at the age of seven, and has since made his debut with the Houston Symphony Orchestras under Christoph Eschenbach, performing also throughout Europe, Israel, and Central America. He also studied with late composer and pianist Robert Avalon, who developed the Foundation for Modern Music, now in its twentieth year.
Pianist Rodolfo Morales, who organized this collaboration between FMM and MECA, directs Piano Studies at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and the Piano Department at the American Festival for the Arts. Mr. Morales remains active as a local and international solo artist and chamber musician.
Emmanuelle Beaulieu Bergeron, cellist for Rice University's Shepherd School of Music graduate quartet-in-residence, Kailas String Quartet, will demonstrate her gifts as a soloist in several of the evening's works.
Victoria Bass, Shepherd School graduate who has recently begun cello studies at Juilliard, will return to Houston for the concert. Victoria is a member of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble and also devotes her energy to performance art, acting, and singing.
The concert is part of MECA's Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Concert Series and FMM's Music of Today Series, and is co-sponsored by Houston Arts Alliance. The Kailas String Quartet, Mr. Vela, and Mr. Morales have all performed previously at MECA, now in its thirtieth year of promoting the healthy social, cultural, and academic development of Houston's at-risk, inner-city youth through education in the arts.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $1 for students, and are available at www.ticketweb.com or at the door during the performance.
For all information call MECA at 713-802-9370.
