Las Cruces Friends of Chamber Music
“Musically Speaking”, 07/27/2007
Hello, Friends!
I hope you are all managing to stay cool in the midst of this L-O-N-G, HOT Summer! I’m already dreaming about the respite from the heat that Fall will bring, and along with it the wonderful musical things we have planned for September, October, and November.
With the Salvador Dali exhibit opening in September at the Las Cruces Museum of Art, we are thrilled to collaborate with the Foundation for Las Cruces Museums in presenting an outstanding program of 20th Century Music. The concert will be entitled “Una GALA para Gala”. Our title pays tribute to Dali’s beloved wife and muse, Helena Ivanova Diakonova (“Gala”), the inspiration for much of his work. You won’t want to miss this fabulous performance, to be held at the Rio Grande Theatre on Sunday afternoon, October 14. The exact program and the time of the concert along with ticket prices will be announced very soon. Tickets will go on sale no later than September 1.
Also related to the Dali exhibit, we will bring 3 Saturday afternoon lectures with music to the museum gallery, illustrating musical aspects of the cultural environment which surrounded Dali’s work. Those afternoon programs will be on September 29, October 27, and November 24, at 2 PM each day. Other than the regular admission into the exhibit, there is no additional fee to attend these presentations.
We are also working closely with Denise Chávez and the wonderful folks at Border Book Festival, Inc. to co-sponsor performances by La Catrina Quartet. (Check them out at www.lacatrinaquartet.com .) These marvelously talented young men, 3 of whom are originally from Mexico, are an up and coming presence in the world of chamber music, and we are absolutely delighted to be able to share them with our community! On Monday, November 19, they will make bi-lingual musical presentations to local school children; then on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 20, they will perform in beautiful San Albino Catholic Church, on the square in old Mesilla. Their program will be built around the string quartet repertoire of Mexican composers, with commentary by renowned ethnomusicologist, Enrique La Madrid. Following the concert, there will be a reception where audience members can visit with the musicians. We are grateful for the generous support of the Basilica Endowment Fund of San Albino Roman Catholic Church, the first community partner to help underwrite the expenses related to this exciting event. Please contact me if you would like to be a part; Padrinos y Madrinas de La Catrina, through their financial and “in-kind” gifts, will make it possible for us to present this wonderful concert for just $5.00 per ticket!
The opportunity to work with Denise and friends at Border Book Festival, along with Monsignor Getz from San Albino’s, is a tremendous gift! I feel the same about our working friendship with Joy and the other lovely people at Las Cruces Museum of Art, as well as the newly formed Foundation for Las Cruces Museums. It is these kind of collaborative efforts that strengthen ALL of the arts in our community, as well as creating venues which bring our community together in new and varied ways. Las Cruces Friends of Chamber Music is thrilled and honored to join hands with others in order to bring our common goals to fulfillment!
I’ll be sending more details on these up-coming events in my next newsletter, but you may want to go ahead and to put the dates on your calendar: “Friday Night with Friends” on November 30, introducing Bill Kuyper, horn, newly retired from the New York Philharmonic. The performance will feature Vaughn Williams’ Quintet for horn, cello, clarinet, piano, and violin. 7:30 PM at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. Also, “Friday Night with Friends” at St. Andrew’s. 7:30 PM on December 21. “Songs of the Season/Canciones Navideñas”.
As our organization continues to grow and move forward, the responsibilities related to administration and organization are multiplying. I find that there are a number of support tasks that really need to be handled more efficiently than I have time to give to them. If volunteers can help to manage some of those tasks, it will allow me to put my energies toward the aspects of the organization for which I feel best equipped. Some of the things I could use help with would be best served by the assistance of someone with experience in those particular areas, although most would benefit from the help of anyone who would be willing to share part of the load. Please respond to this E-mail or give me a call (523-7714) if you would like to explore ways in which you could lend a hand. I will be holding a meeting very soon to help coordinate volunteer efforts, and am very hopeful that some of you will feel that you can assist in some way or another.
This Fall we will launch a membership drive, where our friends can pledge support for our organization at various levels, becoming tangible partners in the work we are doing. In advance of that time, we have begun to seek a group of Charter Members: 10 individuals, groups, or businesses who will make an immediate gift of $500 or more. Those 10 donors will not only help us by providing some much-needed operating capital, but would serve, by their example, to encourage others to support our organization. Charter members will play a key role in establishing vital support systems, and as such will continue to be honored in the years ahead for their commitment to what we are doing. Should you yourself wish to support Las Cruces Friends of Chamber Music in that way, or if you are acquainted with someone who might be willing to discuss that type of support, please contact me. I would be glad for any opportunity to discuss the particulars. [Just a reminder, because of our affiliation with the Doña Ana Arts Council, a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization, any and all financial gifts to Las Cruces Friends of Chamber Music are tax-deductible.
As always, I am eager to get the word out about our organization to as many people as possible. If you would be so kind as to forward this E-mail to persons you think might be interested in what we are doing, I would certainly appreciate it. If you are one of those individuals who receives this as a “forward” from a friend, let me assure you that I do not have your E-mail address and will not be initiating any further correspondence to you unless you specifically ask to be placed on our mailing list. Should you wish me to include you in future mailings, I will be most happy to do so. Simply notify me by way of the contact page on our website :
www.lascrucesfriendsofchambermusic.org .
In closing, let me share the words of 20th century sage, Danny Kaye: “Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint you can on it.” Until next time, Happy painting!
Musically yours,
Barbara Toth
P.S. I started this morning with a cup of coffee on the patio and today’s Las Cruces Bulletin in hand. Make sure you see the wonderful feature article in their Arts and Entertainment section about our organization!! Thanks ever so much to Joel Courtney, reporter at the Bulletin!
