Arts Alive San Antonio

The CMI-OSA Festival continues through this weekend. The concert, Anna and her Sisters, which features guest artists and artist faculty, will be performed Friday, June 14 @7:30 p.m. This festival has both a performing and teaching component, hence the references to “teaching artists” and “guest artists” and “artist faculty.” The three groups are the most experienced musicians. (June 14 at 7:30 p.m.; Alvarez Studio Theater at the Tobin Center).  For more CMI events consult the CMI’s website
www.cmi-sa/cmi-210/info).

This is also the time to celebrate Juneteenth with “Freedom! A Juneteenth Contemporary Choral Concert” presented by the San Antonio African-American Community Archive and Museum
in collaboration with the Classical Music Institute and the San Antonio Gospel Heritage Choir.
They will join forces to present two powerful pieces by composer Joel Thompson, finishing with a classic by Richard Smallwood. Thompson’s “Seven Last Words of the Unarmed” is comprised of seven movements, with each movement quoting one of the last words of an unarmed Black man before he was killed. The composer explained that, in composing the work, he used the liturgical format in Haydn’s “The Seven Last Words of Christ.” (June 18 at 7 p.m.; Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets are $10 at 210-223-8624 or tickets@tobincenter.org)

This is also the time to celebrate Juneteenth with “Freedom! A Juneteenth Contemporary Choral Concert” presented by the San Antonio African-American Community Archive and Museum
in collaboration with the Classical Music Institute and the San Antonio Gospel Heritage Choir.
They will join forces to present two powerful pieces by composer Joel Thompson, finishing with a classic by Richard Smallwood. Thompson’s “Seven Last Words of the Unarmed” is comprised of seven movements, with each movement quoting one of the last words of an unarmed Black man before he was killed. The composer explained that, in composing the work, he used the liturgical format in Haydn’s “The Seven Last Words of Christ.” (June 18 at 7 p.m.; Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle; tickets are $10 at 210-223-8624 or tickets@tobincenter.org)

Following their recent trip to Spain, the AGARITA Chamber Players, are plunging right back into the local scene. They will be enlivening the many spaces of the Witte Museum in, what is described, as an “immersive experience.” Their main program is inspired by the Witte’s special exhibit, “Surviving Space: Astronauts and Asteroids.” After a set of Individual performances throughout the museum, starting at 5 p.m., the group concert will take place in the Dowson Family Hall at 6 p.m. (June 18, 5-7 p.m.; Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, 78209, free, and museum entrance is also free that afternoon.)

A music group we don’t hear from that often, Musical Offerings, will present “Jazz Meets Classical” with
Clarice Assad. The Brazilian-born Assad has had a stellar career as composer, vocalist, and instrumentalist. She also received a number of commissions from well-known musical groups and orchestras, including a commission from Camerata Pacifica and the Oregon Symphony. Her latest release is the album “Archetypes” with her father Sergio Assad.   (June 17 at 7:30 p.m.; Christ Episcopal Church. 510 Belknap Place, 78212; 210-736-3132; tickets are $5-$20; to read more about Musical Offerings visit https://mumusicaloffering.org/)

Last week we told you about Fiesta Noche del Rio at the Arneson River Theater, but there’s more – River Walk Live, at the same place. It’s a free music concert held every third Thursday of the month; free but seating is limited. The next headliner is singer/songwriter, Angel White. (Seating starts at 6 p.m.; opening act is at 7p.m., and the headliner performs at 8:30 p.m.)

Texas-born, Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Jess Williamson, who brings “a wholly modern take on country music,” will be on stage at Stable Hall Sat. June 15, at 8 p.m.; 307 Pearl Parkway, 78215; tickets are $23+; www.stablehall.com.

At the Frost Bank Center, catch Aventura: Cerrando Ciclos Tour 2024. According to the press announcement, Aventura returns for the last time with its classics like “Obsession,” “Un Beso,” and other old favorites. “We cannot be stagnating in the nostalgia of yesterday but need to move forward to discover new horizons,” said Romeo Santos. (June 19 at 8 p.m.’ tickets are $71-$205+ at www.ticketmaster.com)

The Bely y Beto Tour USA 2024, stops at the Boeing Center at Tech Port, for a show on June 16. It’s described as “a completely familiar show where children will be able to sing and dance to the songs.
(June 16 at 3 p.m.; Boeing Center at Tech Port, 3331 General Hudnell Drive Access Rd., 78226;
210-739-4211; $19.50+ fees, to $129.50 + fees. https://fb.me/e/9neyQb0Xv)

Music News from UTSA: This summer, mariachi students entering grades 9-12 have the unique opportunity to explore their musical interests and refine their skills at the 2024 UTSA Mariachi All-State Summer Clinic.  As the first-ever summer camp at UTSA to focus on mariachi music, it will provide a focused experience to explore the genre’s culture and tradition. Presented by the UTSA School of Music, the program will take place in the Arts Building on the university’s main campus; July 15-18.
The UTSA mariachi ensembles director, Michael Acevedo, who joined the music faculty in 2010, has greatly contributed to the latest developments, including the new summer camps. Jonathan Palomar will assist with voice and guitar instruction. He is a guitarist and vocalist for the famous Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan. (The summer program will have a final concert in the UTSA Recital Home, July 18 at 4 p.m., in front of a live audience. To learn more about the program go to www.UTSAsummercamps)

Local stages are getting livelier. The Magik Theater’s popular show, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” will move to the Empire Theater for several performances. (June 13-23; tickets are $37 – $47; to see the schedule, go to www.majesticempire.com/events/)

The San Pedro Playhouse has extended the run of its current show, “The Boys in the Band” by a week.
Additional shows are scheduled for June 27-30; Thursday-Saturday at 7:30, Sunday at 2 p.m.; 800 W. Ashby Pl, 78212’ Box Office 210-589-8450.

The Wonder Theater will premiere “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” next Friday. The company has finalized its move to the Wonderland of the Americas Mall, which makes parking easy. You can purchase tickets online or by calling the box office at 210-267-8388. It’s open Wed. – Sat. from 2-5 p.m.

A unique dance performance takes place every year during the summer solstice at the San Antonio Airport. It is performed by dancer and choreographer, Catherine Cisneros, within the lighted squares of Christopher Janney’s “Passing Light” solar sculpture in celebration of the Summer Solstice. (June 20 at 2 p.m.; free access.)

Remember Bihl Haus Arts? Well, it’s still there on Fredericksburg Rd. and it is currently presenting FLUX, an exhibition of ceramic art by three artists: James Miller, Lenise Perez-Miller and Sarah Shore, who describe themselves as friends “slinging mud (clay) and unleashing their innermost creativity.”
(through June 29; The gallery is inside the Sorrento Residential Property, 2803 Fredericksburg Rd., 78201)

It’s time to visit or revisit The Briscoe Western Art Museum and view “Survival of the Fittest: Envisioning Wildlife and Wilderness with the Big Four.” The title references Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species” which had a revolutionary impact on how people from European cultures envisioned our relationship with other animals on Earth. In the post-Darwin time, a group of classically trained painters – now known as the “Big Four” – emerged and helped establish a vision of wildlife and nature that lasts to this day. The Big Four are: German Richard Friese (1854-1918); Swede Bruno Lijefors (1860-1939; German Wilhelm Kuhnert (1865 – 1926) and German-American Carl Rungius (1869-1959). The new exhibit brings together the best paintings from two esteemed institutions from Germany and Holland.
 In addition to the 45 works featured in the exhibit, the museum will also feature eight works by American artist, Robert Frederick Kuhn (1920-2007). A number of events are associated with the exhibit;
check the Briscoe’s website: www.briscoemuseum.org

And here’s something for sheer entertainment: Illusions by Blake will feature a magician who will baffle you with tricks with scarves cards, and Harry Potter’s glasses! For ages five and up. (June 17, 2-3 p.m.; Collins Garden Library, 200 N. Park Blvd., 78204; 210-207-9120