Arts Alive San Antonio

The symphony may be gone but San Antonio is blessed with a number of classical music nonprofits that keep music alive throughout the year and even in the summer months.

One organization that has contributed a great deal to the music scene here is Musical Bridges Around the World (MBAW), which is celebrating its 25^th anniversary and announcing its upcoming “anniversary season.” MBAW was founded by Russian-born pianist Anya Grokhovski who moved to the U.S. in 1989 with her musician husband and young son, and eventually created the multi-faceted nonprofit that brings musicians of different nationalities and backgrounds to perform in San Antonio.

The upcoming Silver Jubilee Season will consist of five concerts, featuring performers from Italy, Germany, Russia, Slovakia and Austria: Duo Baldo; the Janoska Ensemble; the Calmus Ensemble; pianist Leonardo Colafelice, who won the Bronze Medal at the last Gurwitz International Piano Competition held in San Antonio; and the duo made up of cellist Boris Adrianov and classical guitarist Dimitri Ilarionov.

All concerts take place at the San Fernando Cathedral and all are free. For more information and tickets go to https://musicalbridges.org. In addition, a special art exhibit will be installed in the MBAW gallery.

Now let’s see what’s happening this weekend and beyond in our fair city.

The beloved, multi-Grammy-winning R&B group, Boyz II Men will give a single San Antonio concert Aug. 12, at the Tech Port Arena.  They have sold “a ludicrous number of records” and their lush soulful ballads still enchant audiences across America. (Aug. 12 at 8 p.m., Tech Port Center & Arena, 3331 General Hudnell Dr., tickets are $55.50 – $125; through the Tobin box office, tickets@tobincenter.org; www.techportcenter.com, 210-600-3699)

The next day, the Tobin will present Jake Shimabukuro, the Hawaiian born ukulele player, who has collaborated with a number of famous artists such as Bette Midler, Willie Nelson, Kenny Loggins and others. These collaborations are featured on his recent album “Jake & Friends.” (Aug. 13 at 8 p.m.; Alvarez Theater at the Tobin Center; 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets are $46.50; tickets@tobincenter.org or by calling 210-223-8624)

The traditional country music trio, Midland, Kevin Fowler & Jonathan Terrell will wow crowds of fans at the Whitewater Amphitheater with their “21^st century American Honky Tonk.” (Aug. 12-13 at 8 p.m.; Whitewater Amphitheater, 11860 FM 306, New Braunfels; tickets are $35-$89, 830-964-3800, www.whitewaterrocks.com)

The Majestic Theater will present Matute: Quinceanera World Tour, next Thursday. Don’t feel bad if you don’t know what that is; we didn’t either. It’s a Mexican pop group founded by Jorge D’Alessio in 2007, and specializing in bilingual renditions of hits from the 80s. It was named after a cartoon character from the kids TV show, “Don Gato y Sus Gang.” So, expect hits of the 80s and flashy production elements as the sextet celebrates its 15th anniversary. (Aug. 18, at 8 p.m.; Majestic Theater, 224 E. Houston; tickets start at $54.45; 210-226-3333, www.majesticempire.com)

And here’s something different – not an arts event but one that combines spirituality with beautiful music. It’s likely to be an experience to remember. Organized by the Celebration Circle, it isa multi-faith service with a “creative approach to spirituality,” that includes songs and poetry” and welcomes everyone. (Sunday, Aug. 14, 11 a.m. to 12 noon; Living Church at Woodlawn Point, 702 Donaldson, 78213; 281-671-7708; https://www.thresholdchoir.org)

The Woodlawn Theater is ready to open “A Chorus Line,” one of the most praised musicals in recent times. It captures the real-life anxiety that dancers go through while hoping to be chosen for a Broadway show, fearing yet another rejection and more uncertainty while struggling to get a break in show business. The Woodlawn show is directed Chris Rodriguez, with choreography by Eric B. Mota, and music direction by Andrew Hendley. Songs include “What I did for Love,” “At the Ballet,” “I Hope I Get It” and others. This is probably the last show presented in the historic Woodlawn Theater, as the company is moving a few miles north into premises at the Wonderland of the Americas Mall. (Aug. 12 to Sept 4^th, Friday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m.; Woodlawn Theater, 1970 Fredericksburg Rd., 210-267-8388; info@woodlawntheatre.org You can buy tickets online or at the box office; www.woodlawntheatre.org)

On August 13, the Woodlawn Academy will host a workshop with actors Jesse Borrego & Joseph JT Campos, and filmmaker Aaron Lee Lopez, an opportunity for the students to learn about the professional world of acting and the film industry. Go online to register, $10 (see above).

The Jump-Start Performance Co is again presenting its 8×8 Cabaret du Jump, where an 8-foot cube serves as a platform for 8-minute creative performances on stage. The evening will be hosted by Duva Lynn and will feature Karma Korture, Florinda Flores-Brown, Jac Que, Robin and Carlos Bernal, Sal Salcedo, and Holly Nanes as Sofia the Clown. (August 13 at 8 p.m.; 710 Fredericksburg Rd., 78201; 210-227-5867; www.jump-start.org; You can choose what you want to pay, from $0 – $15.)

Lucky, we told you last week about the Shan Puppet Theater from Taiwan, at SAMA. It is now sold out.

On the visual arts front, there are always interesting developments. To begin with, the large downtown gallery space known as Centro de Artes, has reopened after a couple of months of renovations. The current exhibits features two women artists – Leila Hernandez and the California-based Elizabeth Jimenez Montelongo. Hernandez’s “La Visa Negra 2.5: Tendiendo los Trapitos at Sol” features recycled materials, such as clothing, transformed into tapestries and quilts. She explores the cultural crossover between S. Texas and N. Mexico, focusing on the “sweat and tears” of contemporary immigrants. Montelongo’s vivid paintings are inspired by the past, as she imagines the exuberant dances of the indigenous ancestors, as reflected in her title – “The Euphotic Dance of the Unconquered Mind.”
(On view through Dec. 30; Market Square; Open Wed.-Friday 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; free; www.sanantonio.gov/arts)

A new show recently opened at AnArte Gallery on Broadway, showing the works of Amy Shekhter, the artist’s first exhibit at the prestigious sales gallery. She describes her work as pop art that incorporates iconic images of famous people with nostalgia for the past. “It is a meshing of objects and time periods that remind me of joyful pastimes,” she is quoted as saying. Titled “Rock Your World,” the show closes Sept. 4. (AnArte Gallery, 7959 Broadway, Suite 212; 210-826-5674; www.anartegallery09.com)

The African-American Community Archive and Museum is inviting you to join a 100-minute River Cruise to explore Black history along the San Antonio River. You and your party can tour the museum prior to the tour. (Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m.; $30 per person; 210-724-3350 or email programdir@saaacam.org; additional tours are scheduled for Sept. 3 and Oct. 15)

Dock Space Gallery, is about to open “This and That,” a show featuring mixed-media paintings and drawings of prominent artist and former SAALM Artist of the Year, Raul Rene Gonzalez. (Opens Saturday, Aug. 13 with a reception 6-9 p.m.; 107 Lone Star Blvd., 78204; 210-723-3048; www.dockspacegallery.com)

We also want to remind you that the photo festival, Fotoseptiembre USA, is just around the corner. We’ll tell you more in the coming weeks.

The city’s Department of Arts & Culture wants to hear from you! They would like your input regarding places to locate public art projects in the various city districts. If interested, join one of the upcoming meetings – at the McCreless Library on Aug. 16 and at the Great Northwest Library on Aug. 30 at 5:30 p.m.

The Texas Commission on the Arts is currently seeking nominations for the 2023-24 Texas Poet Laureate, TX State Musician and two State Visual Artists. All citizens can submit a nomination; deadline Oct. 15, 2022. For details go to https://txoriginal.com.

Last but certainly not least, we wish to congratulate two hard-working women in the city’s Arts & Culture Department who have recently been promoted: Krystal Jones is now the official Arts & Culture Director while Diana Hidalgo is now the Assistant Director. Congratulations!