Arts Alive San Antonio

We must start with the news from the former musicians of the San Antonio Symphony. You’ll recall, they formed their own nonprofit, MOSAS Performance Fund, and performed several successful spring concerts at the First Baptist Church of San Antonio. Then, many left to pursue summer engagements.

Well, they are back, and they have good news. To begin with, they have a new name: the San Antonio Philharmonic, and a new president, Brian Petkovich, who also founded the MOSAS Performance Fund. “The chief thrust of the Philharmonic, in addition to performing world-class concerts, is to embrace the community and share a sense of belonging and connection,” he said in a press release. “Our programming and outreach will honor the history, diversity and culture of our city. We are seeking ways to involve new audiences in the transformative power of music by partnering with organizations around the city.”

The new entity will also continue the tradition of school engagement and musical education with a new season of 36 free-admission Young People’s Concerts, which amounts to 40% of all concerts. With a new name, comes also a desire to rebrand the image of the orchestra with a new logo, and the nickname SA Phil. (Clever and easy!)

The inaugural season will feature ten classical and three pops concerts, to be conducted by highly respected conductors, such as Ken-David Masur, and former conductors/artistic directors of the San Antonio Symphony, Christopher Wilkins and Sebastian Lang-Lessing. Guest artists include pianists John Kimura Parker and William Wolfram, soprano Vanessa Becerra and others. In addition, the great San Antonio Mastersingers will join the Philharmonic for two concerts in the upcoming season.

The press release points out that individual donations “are largely responsible for the Philharmonic’s ability to move forward. So, let’s all help a bit!

All concerts will take place at the First Baptist Church of San Antonio, 515 McCullough, downtown. The public is invited to a reception and an opportunity to buy tickets Saturday, Aug. 27 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; at the Maverick Carter House at 110 Taylor St., close to the church. The new website is https://saphil.org.

Now, let’s see what else is going on!

If you are missing classical music, there’s a chamber concert this Sunday that’s free to attend (but donations are welcome). It’s the third summer concert by the Olmos Ensemble titled “An Afternoon of Song,” featuring soprano Eva Martinez, pianist Warren Jones, clarinetist Ilya Shterenberg and oboist Andrew van der Paardt. This illustrious group will perform works of Francis Poulenc, Eduard Destenay, Ralph Vaughan Williams and the No.1 song master, Franz Schubert. (Aug.28 at 2.p.m.; Laurel Heights United Methodist Church, 227 W. Woodlawn, 78212; 210-733-7156; to contact Olmos call 210-269-1925; www.olmostensemble@gmail.com)

In previous editions of NEWS ROUNDUP, we mentioned the FOTOSEPTIEMBRE Festival, so here are some highlights as chosen by founder Michael Mehl. Artist & photographer E. Dan Klepper is included in the fest’s 2022 Online Gallery. In his work, he explores the real and the abstract characteristics of the natural world by creating unique composite photographs. At the UNAM San Antonio Gallery, Mexican artist, Paulina Lavista’s, exhibit “Instances of the Theater of Life,” captures iconic moments in Mexico’s cultural and every-day life in a poetic way. (Opened Aug. 25, closes Sept. 30; 600 Hemisfair Plaza Way, 78205, open 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; 210-222-8626)

Studio Comfort Texas will open “Wind & Dust,” featuring the work of artist and photographer Liz Potter, focusing on her interaction with the elements of West Texas environments. (On view through Sept. 25; 716 High Street, Comfort, TX 78013; 720-299-0302 or 830-995-3750; www.studiocomforttexas.com.) The San Antonio Center of Photography will open an exhibit of photos by the late Reg Campbell who photographed his own decline through the various stages of cancer treatment. He died in 2020. (724 S. Alamo St., Suite 3, 78205; show opens Sept 2, runs through Dec.2; https://www.thephotocenter.org)

To see more, go to fest’s website https://fotoseptiembreusa.com.

More visual arts news: A new art gallery is about to open in town. Called Brushworks Studio & Gallery, the new space is owned by artist Jacqueline Reynoso whose goal is to introduce and support young, emerging artists. Her own work will be shown along with pieces by the young artists. The opening celebration is planned for Saturday, Aug. 27, from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. (13962 Nacogdoches Rd. 78217; no contact info provided)

Fiber Artists of San Antonio announced a call for entries for the “50 Years of Fiber Art” exhibit, to be presented in November at the Kelso Gallery of the University of the Incarnate Word.  Quilts, weavings, paper art, fiber sculptures, art-to-wear, etc., are acceptable art forms. Artist may submit three images for the juried exhibition. The themes should be inspired by the culture symbols of the last five decades, starting with the 1970s. Submission forms and the prospectus are available to artists from Aug. 29 to Sept. 15. The show will be held Nov. 6 – December 9, 2022. To submit go to https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=10652 The entries will be judged by Paula Owen, artist and president emeritus of the Southwest School of Art.

You have about a week left to visit the popular Witte Museum exhibit “The Power of Poison,” which will close after Labor Day. Organized by the American Museum of Natural History in New York, the show tells the story of poison through immersive, interactive exhibits, including a re-creation of Colombia’s Choco Forest, dioramas of popular scenes from history and literature, and an “enchanted book of botanicals that comes to life with the touch of a hand.” Several live poison-producing animals are also included. (Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway; 210-357-1900, www.wittemuseum.org)

A different visual art event will be taking place Saturday night at the Vibes Event Center. Organized by an LA company, the Secret Walls event in each city of the tour, is set up as a competition between several local artists to see who can complete an original artwork in front of an audience in a given amount of time. Participating San Antonio artists are Jenkins2D, Albert Gonzales, JP Gutierrez and Ana Hernandez. (Aug, 27 at 8 p.m.; Vibes Event Center, 1223 E. Houston St.; tickets $25-$75 at www.eventbrite.com)

There are always things going on the pop-rock music circuit. The Emmy and Tony Award actress/singer, Kristin Chenoweth, will be at the Majestic Theater next Thursday (Sept. 1, at 7:30 p.m.; Majestic Theater, 224 E. Houston; tickets start at $54.50 at 210-226-3333; www.majesticempire.com)

And the always impressive Il Divo will enchant audiences all over again at the Tobin Center. Though they lost the talented and charming Carlos Marin to COVID, the remaining trio will be joined by guest singer, baritone Steven La Brie on the current tour. The concert is dedicated to Marin. (Aug. 28 at 8 p.m.; Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets $65-$150 at the Tobin box office, tickets@tobincenter.org)

Jazz TX, the best-known local spot to hear jazz pros, is marking six years in existence. The underground club will celebrate with two performances by founder Doc Watkins and his orchestra on Aug. 30, with the first show starting at 7:30 (sold out) and another starting at 9:30 p.m. Dinner service available. (Aug. 27; 312 Pearl Parkway, Bldg. 6, suite 6001; 78215; 210-332-9386; www.jazztx.com)

For a different kind of music, celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the Conjunto Heritage Taller with a lot of conjunto music. It’s a Tardeada at Rosedale Park, free and open to all. The Conjunto Heritage Taller is a community-based organization dedicated to preserving and teaching traditional conjunto music as played with the button accordion and bajo sexto. (Aug. 27 at 5 – 11 p.m., Rosedale Park, 303 Dartmouth, 78238)

And here’s something that will be of interest to San Antonio musicians: CD Baby is bringing its highly anticipated DIY Musician Conference back to Austin, the live music Capital of Texas, the first since the pandemic. The three-day conference offers keynote speakers, songwriting and marketing workshops, one-on-one mentorships with music business professionals, performance opportunities and “countless jam sessions.” Keynote speakers include many music business insiders, helping emerging artists to learn what they need to successfully distribute, publish, promote and monetize their music. (Conference dates: Aug. 26-28; for information go to https://cdbaby.com)

Luminaria, the outdoor one-night arts festival, just announced that in 2022 it will not return to Hemisfair Park that has been its home for a number of years. Originally imagined as a fest that would change locations around the city, it kept returning to Hemisfair Park as the most workable alternative. Well, now it’s moving but still staying downtown. The new footprint of the event will be in the area of Travis Park, stretching to the Naylor Smith River Walk Plaza of the Tobin Center, taking over Jefferson St. from Auditorium Circle to Pecan St. Why not move to a different part of the city altogether?