El Paseo Arts Foundations invites public to Holiday Concert

Special to the Parade

El Paseo ArtsThe holiday season, perhaps more than any other time of the year, is a season of song.

The familiar music fills the airwaves and can be heard in every store as shoppers search for the perfect gift. The music conjures up memories of holiday cheer shared with family and friends, and one can almost smell the warm and spicy scents of the season as the carols and bells ring on the air.

El Paseo Arts Foundation invites the public to celebrate the season with the foundation’s Seventh Annual Holiday Concert on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 2:30 p.m., at the South Padre Island Hilton Garden Inn. The concert is “gift-priced” at $10 per person and includes a complimentary hors d’oeuvres buffet and cash bar. Tickets are available for purchase at the SPI Visitors Center, Paragraphs on Padre Bookstore, Designer Consigner in Port Isabel or online at www.elpaseoarts.org.

The concert will be part of the debut weekend for the Valley Voices, a brand new chorale based out of Los Fresnos. Valley Voices is comprised of area musicians who are dedicated to serving the local community as a means of promoting an understanding and love of choral music. The musical program includes some of the best-loved music of the season like “Carol of the Bells,” “The Christmas Song,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Joy to the World,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “Oh Come all Ye Faithful,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” and “Hallelujah” from Handel’s Messiah.

Featured soloists are Victoria Vinson, Carolyn Porter, Vivian Contos, Annita White, Ellen Snyder, Ana Nunez, Paul Cardile, Gary Snyder and members of the Laguna Madre Area Community Chorus. Pianists Ruben Rincon Jr., and Mary Hartman will accompany the chorale and the chorus.

Patrick Graves is the choral director for Valley Voices and the choral director for Los Fresnos High School. Originally from Hot Springs, Arkansas, he received a Bachelor of Arts and Music from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, then went on to receive his Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. While at the ULM School of Visual and Performing Arts, Mr. Graves studied voice under Dr. Claire Vangelisti, choral conducting under Dr. Deborah Chandler, and orchestral conducting under Dr. Derle Long. His professional memberships include the American Choral Directors Association, as well as the Texas Music Educators Association.

Valley Voices will make their debut at a holiday concert on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m., at the Harlingen Performing Arts Theatre, 1209 Fair Park Rd., in Harlingen. Tickets for this concert are also priced at $10 per person and will be available for purchase at the door or by calling Anita at (956) 832-3122.

Officials with the El Paseo Arts Foundation said they were delighted to play sponsor and host for this new musical group and the Foundation’s volunteers will be decking the hall for the festive event. Celebrate the joyful spirit of the season with song and give the gift of music to a friend.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2011/11/23/el-paseo-arts-foundations-invites-public-to-holiday-concert/

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