On Saturday, December 13, 2014, the Los Angeles Music and Art School (LAMusArt) was elegantly transformed into a concert venue for our Holiday Concert and Posada.
Festive string- lights and rows of chairs in our courtyard underneath the night sky made for an intimate night that welcomed students, parents, volunteers, community partners and our Board members to the occasion. During our pre-concert reception, guests enjoyed warm food and drinks, catered by local community businesses, while mixing and mingling with one another. Warm tamales and champurrado from Liliana’s Tamales and an array of sweet bread by La Central Bakery were a crowd favorite.
The evening of fellowship and mirth was begun by our Executive Director, Isela Sotelo, who welcomed and thanked everyone in attendance for their support and recognition of LAMusArt’s near 70 years of service to its community. Ms. Sotelo also introduced current Riordan Leadership Institute intern, Jasmine Ako, who is leading the development of LAMusArt’s new Young Professionals Advisory Board (YPAB). The YPAB hopes to engage emerging professionals, many of whom aspire to join nonprofit Boards in the future, to collaborate with LAMusArt in support of art education in our communities. After a brief welcome and acknowledgment by Manuel Prieto, current Deputy Director, the concert was begun.
Young performer, Erick Payes, age 6, opened the show with a charming performance of “Mi Burrito Sabanero.” He was followed by LAMusArt veteran, Azucena Ortega, who performed “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” and Bianca Kohner who sang “Popular” from Broadway’s Wicked. Soloists also included Adriana Ortega’s “O Holy Night” and Diana Ventura’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”
After our student soloists it was time for our ensemble groups to perform. Dr. Gideon Rubin, LAMusArt Music Director, first introduced members of the Junior Orchestra who performed the “Nutcracker Suite.” Next, the Youth Chamber Orchestra, funded in part by the Los Angeles Philanthropic Committee for the Arts, performed a series of symphonies that included “Carol of the Bells” and a suite from the film, Pirates of the Caribbean.
Tiffany Cruz, age 13 closed the evening of music with a mariachi version of “Feliz Navidad” and a traditional holiday song “Yes, Virginia, there’s a Santa Claus”.
Our event could not have been complete without the help of our many volunteers, many of which are parents of our student performers. There is nothing better for us at LAMusArt to see whole families engage in and support the arts.
May you and your loved ones have a joyous Holiday Season and if this event and our students inspired you, we hope you consider making an end of the year charitable contribution.
Happy Holidays!
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