Two fun and promising festivals are starting in a few days: The Cactus Pear Music Festival and the Cinefestival San Antonio, the former devoted to chamber music, and the latter to original Latinx films. Both start on July 6. This year will be CPMF’s 26th summer season, and the final one for founder and long-time artistic director – and former …

BY JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor If you are like most Americans, you are at least somewhat familiar with movie and comic-book characters such as Ironman, Batman, Spiderman, Dart Vader, Wonder Woman, and others like them. Invariably, these characters are brave “defenders of truth, justice and the American Way. They are better versions of ordinary Americans,” as it says in the text …

Hollow: A Spent Shell SpeaksBu Marla Dial Moore I wasn’t meant for you,            my little one.Had I the power, I’d have            stopped in my tracks,     flown backknowing I was once like you,            pulsing with potential                        to build bridges,                                    stitch wounds,                        grace paintings.Both of us untempered, easily shaped,our purpose unknown but unfolding.I came cheap —but you were dear. I …

The official dissolution of the San Antonio Symphony has concluded nearly a year of unsuccessful would-be negotiations between the SAS management and the musicians, and brought the 82-year history of the organization to a sad end. “By unanimous vote, the Board has initiated the requisite steps to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy,” said the official SAS statement. “The assets of …

BY JASMINA WELLIGHOFF, Editor When I interviewed Rosemary Catacalos some years ago when she was the executive director of Gemini Ink, one thing repeatedly came up in the conversation: her concern for the community. In that article I wrote: “Whether she is talking about personal memories or the goals of the literary center she’s led for the past four years, …

BethlehemBy Jonathan Fletcher When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi,he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehemand its vicinity who were two years old and under,in accordance with the time from the Magi.                                                        The Gospel of Matthew 2:16 (NIV) I’m tired of your thoughts and prayers, the massacresof innocents. …

We told you last week about the interesting music festival, Forbidden & Forgotten produced by the Classical Music Institute. The name refers to works by composers who were either ignored (mostly We women) or composed music that the people in power did not approve of. The concert series continues this weekend with Forbidden Exiles, featuring the music of Paul Hindemith, …

BRIAN PETKOVICH, Musician, Member of the San Antonio Symphony and Founder of MOSAS Performance Fund By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor Tell us how you chose the bassoon as your instrument?I started in the band program at my school. I was kind of recruited to play the bassoon because I was tall in 7th grade. Then one thing led to another, and …

UVALDE: The Day AfterBy Aiham Kamakhly This morning, the sky is blackas though the clouds have voted to block the sun.I walk heavily, hiding between myself and my mind.I, a stranger who finds joy in the eyes of Texas students,lost it this morning when a childlooked at me and smiled.How many times should adults on this earthapologize for the feigned …

Just as the Musicians of the San Antonio Symphony (MOSAS) wrapped up their short “season” at the First Baptist Church of San Antonio, the Classical Music Institute San Antonio is starting its series of concerts presented under the title, “Forbidden & Forgotten.”  That title refers to composers whose works have been either ignored or have provoked governmental authorities. The opening …