Arts Alive San Antonio

Music is alive and well in San Antonio right now, thanks in part to the Classical Music Institute’s CMI 210 Festival that’s co-sponsored by Opera San Antonio. A plurality of events is taking place all over the city. This fest is different from many traditionally presented festivals because it combines educational activities for music students, ages 8-18, with public performances.  Students of different levels of training also participate in the public performances. Concerts take place at different locations, June 24-26.

The majority of the “community concerts” are free to attend but there are two ticketed events:
California Suite, which features professional artists who are faculty members or guest artists. (June 13,
at the Alvarez Theater at the Tobin Center, and the Music-Drama-concert: Flying Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
into the Serenity Now, also at the Alvarez Theater (June 15 at 7:30 p.m.) In addition, a concert titled,
Anna and her Sisters will also feature exclusively guest artists and artist faculty, in the same theater.
To see all events, consult the CMI’s’ website: www.cmi-sa.org/cmi-210/info.

Alamo City Symphony Viva is presenting “Musical Portraits: Elgar & Rachmaninoff” featuring pianist Ta Wei Tsai. (June 9 at 4 p.m.; Travis Park Church, 230 E. Travis St.,78205. For program info and tickets visit www.AlamoCityArts.org)

At Mission San Jose, you can experience the Texas premiere of works by Reiko Futing, performed by the
Unheard-of Ensemble members- Zachary Bell, Zachary Ritter and Brandon Kaplan, with special guest Fr. Dennis Schafer, who will open the concert. (June 8 at 7:30 p.m.; 6701 San Jose Drive; free)

The CHER Show is the Tony-winning musical based on the life story of the superstar, known simply as Cher. The show is packed “with so much Cher that it takes three women to play her, first as a kid starting out, the glam pop star and the icon. Altogether, 35 of her hits will be included. (June 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m.; Tobin Center; tickets start at $44.50; 210-223-8624 or tickets@tobincenter.org)

Lots of other kinds of music are coming up. For one thing, Fiesta Noche del Rio will, once again, enliven the Arneson River Theater on the River Walk. From June 7 to Aug. 3, the happy sounds of mariachis, flamenco guitar, song and dance, will be enjoyed by tourists and locals alike. The proceeds benefit local children’s charities. It’s no surprise that the show has been around since 1957. (Fridays and Saturdays 8:30 -10:30; Arneson River Theater, 418 La Villita, 78205; 210-269-8581 or email to mariayalasandoval@yahoo.com; tickets are $20 for adults; $15 for Seniors (60+); $8 for children 6-14, and free for kids under 6.)

Another music fun spot this summer will be at the Texas Public Radio’s Live at TPR HQ which will go on through June and July. The official kickoff of Summer Night City (2024) will feature music by Havana Soul + Joe Posada Trio. Vendors and food trucks will be nearby. In addition to the musicians named above, DJ Rambo Salinas and Mariachi Azteca de America will keep the party going. (June 6. 5-9:30 p.m.; 321 W. Commerce; 210-614-8977 or http://tpr.org)

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Todd Rundgren, will perform at the Charline McCombs Empire Theater this Saturday, as part of his Me/We Tour. (tickets are on sale at www.majesticempire.com/events.todd-rundgren)

Have you heard of Shinyribs, the Austin-based 9-piece showband that plays music of many styles. It was named Best Austin Band in 2017 and 2018 at the Austin Chronicle’s Austin Music Awards. And they won quite a few other awards. Shinyribs with Gus Clark will play at Stable Hall here, in San Antonio, this Saturday. (June 8 at 8 p.m.; $25; Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Parkway, 78215; www.stablehall.com; to learn more go to https://www.shinyribs.com)

And there’s dance! The San Antonio Youth Ballet will perform its version of “Don Quixote” at the San Pedro Playhouse, June 8 and 9; www.sanantonioballetschool.com or call 210-802-7931

Main Plaza Conservancy is bringing life to the plaza on Saturday nights with music, dining, shopping and entertainment. Music on Magnolia group will perform (June 8, 7-10p.m.; for info call 210-225-9800 or email info@mainplaza.org; 115 N. Main Ave.; 78205)

New things are always happening on the visual arts front. Two new large sculptures, “El Trompo” and
“El Papalote” by artist Joe R. Villareal, are described as “monumental emblems of childhood play.” The kite (papalote) is made from pages of the newspaper La Prensa. The sculptures are placed at 849 W. Commerce, 78205 on two sides of the intersection. We can’t tell you much more at this point.

At the AGARITA Loft, the new exhibit is “Unobstructed Horizons” featuring the work of Charlie Kitchen, Hailey Marmolejo, and Dani Becknell that explores “contemporary themes of the desert.” The show was curated by Katy Silva. (Opening June 7, 6-9 p.m.; 724 S. Alamo St #2. The represented media are painting, photography and sculpture. The AGARITA musicians will contribute to the fun with brief musical moments.

“Between Two Dimensions” is an exhibition of works by Marcy McChesney that deal with stories about conflict, change, success and fulfillment in the time of COVID. Shown collages, based on three individuals, were created by using photos, interviews and visual elements specific to their experiences.
(Opening June 6 & 7 at 6 p.m. Blue Star Arts Collective @the Upstairs Studios at Blue Star; 1420 S. Alamo, 78210; closes June 20.)

And speaking of Blue Star, the main exhibit space there, The Contemporary at Blue Star, is also opening a new show: “Xicanx: Dreamers + Changemakers/ Sonadores + creadores del cambio,” opening June 7, as well. Originally presented in Canada at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, the San Antonio iteration will show works organized around the same themes of neighborhood, identity, borderlands and activism,
Curators will lead a walkthrough at 10:30 a.m. (116 Blue Star, 78204; 210-227-6960; free.)

Many San Antonians are not aware that an arts-centered complex exists south of downtown on Lone Star Blvd. There are two spaces: The Dock Space Gallery and the Dock Space Annex. The former will feature the work of Mira Hnatyshyn, who uses her art to reflect on issues of culture, gender roles and identity. The current show, dubbed “Florecer,” is the fifth in a body of large installations that she calls “Peoplescapes.” In the Annex, you’ll find the art of 25 local artists, either eliciting or expressing emotions in a variety of media. (Opening reception, June 8, 6-9 p.m., 107 Lone Star Blvd., 78204; through June; gallery is open by appointment; call 210-723-3048 to view outside of reception times,)

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