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| Sones de Mexico Performs October 4 at the McAninch Arts Center Formed in 1994, the ensemble has developed and popularized original arrangements of Mexican folk music, experimenting with cross-cultural sounds that incorporate Irish, folk, country, jazz and rock music. Latin Grammy nominee Sones de Mexico, Chicago's premiere Mexican folk ensemble, returns to the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage for a 3 pm. Mainstage performance on Sunday, Oct. 4. Lauded for their ability to move seamlessly between styles and instruments, Sones de Mexico remains faithful to the cultural authenticity of the music, while adding their unique flair. Last season, Sones de Mexico member Juan Dies conducted a seven-week residency with students in West Chicago Elementary School District 33. The residency, partially funded by a $5, 000 grant to the MAC through the DuPage Community Foundation, allowed students in grades 4 to 8 to learn the history of "corridos, " a narrative poetic song form derived from 16th century Spain. Students studied the artistic format and used creative writing and art to compose their own ballads. The project culminated in a community event at the school where students joined Dies in performing their original works. The students' corridos will be displayed in the MAC lobby and highlighted during the Oct. 4 concert. A free pre-performance MAC Chat will provide a musical tour of Mexico's regional folk music instruments and styles. Members of the ensemble will discuss variations between regional styles, give live demonstrations and answer audience questions. The program is sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. Tickets to Sones de Mexico are $32 for adults, $30 for seniors and $22 for College of DuPage students and youth. For more information, call the MAC Ticket Office at (630) 942-4000. About the MAC Located 25 miles west of Chicago near I-88 and I-355, the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage (atthemac.org) is a state-of-the-art facility, housing three performance spaces, an art gallery and classrooms for the college's academic programming. This unique facility has presented theater, music, dance and visual art to more than 1.5 million people since its opening in 1986 and last year welcomed more than 75, 000 patrons from the greater Chicago area to more than 230 performances. The center offers free parking and group discounts and is home to Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, the New Philharmonic Orchestra and DuPage Opera Theatre. The result is a collection of touring and resident and student groups that foster enlightened education and performance opportunities to encourage artistic expression, promote a lasting relationship between people and art, and enrich the cultural vitality of the community. The MAC's extensive community outreach program includes pre-performance lectures, classes with visiting artists and the SchoolStage program, which provides students with an interactive, educational arts experience. Those and other efforts to increase community access to arts earned the MAC the Illinois Arts Council's Partners in Excellence designation, which recognizes 40 of the most significant cultural institutions in the state. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Jazz News :: home page |