News Roundup, May 2, 2024

Camerata San Antonio is closing its season with a “tour de force” duo recital featuring violinist Matthew Zerveck and pianist Viktor Valkov. Program: Cui: Violin Sonata, Op.84; Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 6, Op.30, No.1; and Shostakovich’s Violin Sonata, Op.134. Both are distinguished musicians. Valkov is the winner of the 2012 New Orleans International Piano Competition, and appears frequently as a recitalist and soloist, internationally. He often performs with Camerata San Antonio. Zerveck is also an active performer who leads the San Antonio Sinfonietta as concertmaster. He was also the former assistant concertmaster of the San Antonio Symphony. (May 5 at 2 p.m.; Christ Episcopal Church, 510- Belknap Place; admission for general seating is $20 for adults, $8 for students; can be reserved at www.cameratasa.org or by calling 210-492-9519)

The Olmos Ensemble is also closing its 29th season with a concert on Monday. The ensemble will be joined by pianist Jon Nakamatsu. The program features compositions by Haydn, Brahms and Beethoven.
The ensemble members are Eric Gratz (violin); Rachel Woolf (flute); Anfrew Parker (oboe); Ilya Shterenberg (clarinet); Sharon Kuster (bassoon) and Jeff Garza (horn). (May 6 at 7:30 p.m.; Shepherd King Lutheran Church, 303 W. Ramsey Road, 78204; for info call 941-284-4144)

The San Antonio Chamber Choir is presenting “The Sacred Veil” that artistic director, Richard Bjella, recently created as a multi-movement choral work that features a series of poems written about the librettist, Charles Anthony Silvestri’s, relationship with his late wife, Julie, and her battle with ovarian cancer, and the grief he experienced after she died. The choir will also perform the world premiere of a new work by Minneapolis composer, Kyle Pederson, who was awarded the American Prize in Choral Composition in 2019. (May 4 at 7:30 p.m., Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower. 1715 N. Zarzamora St., 78201; for tickets to www.sachamberchoir.org)

The Children’s Chorus of San Antonio is celebrating its 40-year legacy. Highlights of the 40^th Anniversary Celebration concert, titled “For the Beauty,” include a commissioned work by Andea Ramsey which will combine the voices of CCSA and the Alumni Choir. The organization was founded by Marguerite McCormick in 1983, and has seven choral group, according to children’s ages. The Alumni Choir will also join the festivities and it will be conducted by McCormick. CCSA is one of Tobin Center’s resident companies. (May 5 at 4 p.m.; tickets are $16.50- $36; 210-223-8624, tickets@tobincenter.org)

The County Line Community Band will present its Holocaust Remembrance Concert with the Army Band, stationed at Fort Sam. Moving stories of music and how it served as a source of strength, faith and hope will be presented. (May 5 at 3 p.m.; Lampasas Performing Arts Center on the campus of Northeast Lakeview College., 1201 Kittyhawk Rd., Live Oak, TX 78148.)

2024 Joci Awards. These awards were established by the Las Casas Foundation – now renamed the Majestic Empire Foundation – to recognize young talent in the performing arts. They are named in honor of Joci Straus, a prominent arts supporter who led the effort to preserve and renovate the beautiful Majestic and Empire Theaters. She died in 2022. This year, 45 students from 21 different high schools have been selected to compete in several performing arts categories. The foundation will give out a total of $150,000 in scholarship. This is the largest such program in the U.S. (The 16^th Annual Joci Awards Showcase is scheduled for May 5 at 6 p.m., Charline McCombs Empire Theater, 226 N. St. Mary’s St., 78205; $10-$45; www.majesticempire.com/events/)

Speaking of success in the performing arts, here’s a nice example. The Dance Center of San Antonio (a ballet/dance school and its affiliated Children’s Ballet of San Antonio) has been ranked in the top 5% of American Ballet Institutions. The Dance Center of San Antonio students have excelled at the Youth America Grand Prix – YAGP -since the center’s earliest days. Over the past eight years, its students have racked up almost 50 awards at YAGP events and consistently placed in the top 12 of all dancers competing in their category. The school was established and continues to be run by founder Vanessa Bessler, a former principal dancer of the National Ballet of Panama.

Derek Hough- Symphony of Dance, which was originally scheduled for Dec. 17, 2023, is now on the calendar for May 3. The original tickets are valid. Hough and his cast of dancers “pull out all the stops” in this live stage show that includes different styles, from ballroom, Latin, contemporary, and more. They will dance to live music. (May 3 at 7 p.m.; Tobin Center; $56.50 to $799.; tickets@tobincenter.com)

Let’s take a look at local theater stages. The always lively and productive Overtime Theater has a new play, a science fiction romance, titled “Schrodinger’s Catfish.” Here’s the brief synopsis: In an online space, two virtual avatars meet on a first date and debate whether either one of them is a human or an AI creature. And there’s more along similar lines, which eventually blur as the plots converge, with chaotic results. Sounds like a must-see! (Through May 25; Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m.; Overtime Theater, 5409 Bandera RD., Ste 205, 78238. 210-557-7562; $18; https://theovertimetheater.org)

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center has announced a collaboration with Say Si, that will have their respective youth theater groups collaborate during the summer. The two groups are known as Grupo Animo (Guadalupe) and Teatro ALAS (Say Si). Sounds like a great idea, though it was probably made necessary by the renovation of the Guadalupe Center. Classes will take place at Say Si, 1310 S. Brazos, June 3 to 18.; Phone: Say Si 210-2014950, and GCAC 210-271-3151. For more info contact Jorge Pina, theater arts director at GCAC, jorgep@guadalupeculturalarts.org.

The Magik Theater will soon open “The Big Friendly Giant,” as adapted for the stage by David Wood from the book by Roald Dahl. (May 4 – June 2; $20-$25; Magik Theater, 210-227-2751; https://www.magikrheare.org/)

The Wonder Theater Academy has announced its summer camps for young thespians, from June 3 to August 2. To find specific info, visit www.wondertheatreacademy.org. This company was formerly known as the Woodlawn Theatre but it now resides inside the Wonderland of the Americas Mall, in a brand-new home.

And here’s something to plan for in advance: Cirque du Soleil is returning to San Antonio in August with “Songblazers,” its new country music show presented at the Majestic Theater. Tickets are available now. There will be eight performances, from Aug. 21 to Aug.25.

Art for Autism is a free community art fair at the La Cantera Shopping Center. The event will feature art by artists with autism, and is hosted by the Autism Treatment Center. The art will be on sale and proceeds go to the artists. (May 4, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Shops at La Cantera, 15900 La Cantera Parkway, 78256. For info call 801 538-0921

Infatigables’ Art Exhibit & Opening Reception. The title means tireless. It’s an exhibit by a group of artists as a tribute to mothers, as we get ready to celebrate mamas on Mother’s Day. The organizers aim to spotlight the narratives of Latina mothers, capturing the essence of their spirit and their labor-intensive lives. But mothers across the world have demanding lives as they sacrifice for their children.
Included artists are Francis Acevedo, Mario Alvarado and Laura Delmis. (Opens May 4 at 3 p.m.; Central Library, Latino Collection & Resource Center. 210-207-2519.; 600 Soledad; 78205)

Luminaria has a pop-up gallery now that will open with “Maestros: A Showcase of Creative Men – A Tribute to Gilbert Duran,” curated by Duran’s life partner, Karen Evans, and friend Bobby Bacon. (Opens Friday, May 3, 6-9 p.m.; will be open to the public May 3-31; Luminaria, 126 Gonzales. Th exhibit features the work of established artists and friends of Duran, including Robert Wilkens, Jude Mac, Greg Drew and others. For more, visit www.luminariasa.org)

The city’s Department of Arts and Culture has announced the winners of the Annual FilmSA Competition Winners. The Award ceremony and screening will take place May 4 at Mission Marquee Plaza. “The film contest is not just a competition; it is an opportunity for young filmmakers to explore our city’s places and people, in addition to exploring the craft of filmmaking,” said Stacey Norton from the Department of Arts & Culture “The film culture here is constantly expanding, and these youth filmmakers demonstrate the incredible possibilities of what will become and what they’ll create in the future.”

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