Christmas Spirit with the Strad Quartet! | Pro Musica: San Miguel

Christmas Spirit with the Strad Quartet!

Sunday, December 9
12:30 pm

Bellas Artes

by Tim Hazell

Many of you have attended and enjoyed our  Pro Musica Youth Chamber Orchestra’s energetic performances of classical music, Sundays on the beautiful Bellas Artes patio.  Worthy of note is that the large chamber orchestra has served as the vehicle to bring like-minded musicians together who have formed their own duos, trios, quartets and quintets.  These smaller ensembles are now being  featured in their own “Alternative Sundays” concerts, which have met with enthusiasm and accolades for originality and insightful interpretive skills.

One of our most popular string quartets, the Strad, returns next week for a special Christmas concert.  One of the members, violist María del Mar Domínguez, is also part of our chamber orchestra and will be joined by her colleagues, cellist José Francisco Morales, violinists Mitzi Juárez and Itzel Torres for a performance to celebrate the advent of the holiday season on Sunday, December 9 at 12:30 pm.

The Strad Quartet takes its name from the legendary Antonio Stradivari (1644 – 1737), an Italian luthier and crafter of string instruments such as violins, who is generally considered the most significant and greatest artisan in his field.  These university-trained  Mexican students have brought freshness and vitality to their classical performances throughout the region and nationally!

Violinist Itzel Margarita López Torres began her studies at age eleven and was selected to represent Queretaro in a national encounter with orchestras from all over Mexico.  She is currently studying for her Licenciatura in Music under Professor Frank Morales Salabarria.

Originally from Oaxaca, cellist José Francisco Morales Rojas began his formative training at age fifteen in Queretaro with Maestra María Elena Esperanza and is pursuing his Licenciatura in Music at the Centro Universitario de Estudios Musicales in Queretaro.  He has participated in festivals and performed in leading venues throughout Mexico.

Violist María del Mar Domínguez has a Licenciatura in Music and pursued her studies in Queretaro, Guadalajara, Mexico City and Geneva, Switzerland.   Violinist Mitzi Xolio Juárez began her violin studies at age thirteen in the Escuela de Iniciación Artistica de El Instituto Potosino de Bellas Artes and is currently working on her Licenciatura at the Conservatorio de Musica Sacra.

An intimate concert of vigorous ensemble playing elicits intense spectator involvement.  The Strad Quartet is able to tap into the emotive power of works by master composers from Latin America and Europe.  Artists of such youthful energy and technical skill are more than the standardized graduates of university and conservatory faculties of music.  When inspired, they transform traditional and contemporary works into subjective experiences and private reminiscences for all of us listeners!

To encourage all ages to attend there will be no admissions charge.  However, because these Alternative Sundays Recitals will depend on public support, voluntary donations of any amount are gratefully accepted!

Please join our Strad Quartet for an exciting midday concert tribute to the “Spirit of Christmas,” December 9 at Bellas Artes.  Feliz Navidad!