The Pro Musica Youth Orchestra’s first concert of the season will be in its new home, the auditorium of el Sindicato on Recreo 4, just off calle Correo in San Miguel’s centro historico,  on Sunday, December 10 at 5 PM. The ensemble, including our wonderful timpani (kettle drums), will perform a mix of familiar and seasonal classical music, including Handel’s “Water Music”, Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto,”classical holiday music and familiar songs such as Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” and a medleys of traditional Mexican holiday songs.

The orchestra, with a 30-strong core of players chosen through open auditions, has entered an exciting new phase under the leadership of its new Music Director and Principal Conductor, Antonio Aguilar. Maestro Aguliar is a professional conductor with a wealth of experience leading orchestras, particularly youth orchestras, in Mexico. He is currently Professor  of Conducting at the Celaya Conservatory of Music and Director of the Orchestra Silvestre Revueltas, the Santa Cecilia Chamber Group and the choral ensemble Viri Capella.

The concert opens with Handel’s “Water Music,” a Baroque masterpiece that transcends time, inviting listeners into a world of regal splendor and musical enchantment. Composed in 1717, this monumental work was commissioned by King George I for an extravagant river procession on the Thames. Its majestic opening fanfare, punctuated by glorious brass and sweeping strings, sets the tone for the pageantry to follow. Through nine selected movements, we are transported to a splendid realm where royal processions, lyrical landscapes and lively dances come to life through the power of music.

After the intermission, we’ll hear Arcangelo Corelli’s Concerto Grosso Opus 6 No. 8, known as the “Christmas Concerto.” Composed in the late 17th century, this work stands as a crowning achievement of the Baroque concerto grosso. Popular in the Baroque era, the concerto  grosso features a small group of solo instruments (the concertino) set against a larger ensemble (the ripieno). Corelli's work embraces this form with extraordinary finesse. The seamless interplay between soloists and ensemble exemplifies the form, while the intricate counterpoint, expressive melodies, and rich harmonies showcase Corelli's exceptional artistry.

Leroy Anderson “Sleigh Ride” is a beloved holiday composition that captures the magic and merriment of a winter sleigh ride, complete with the clip-clop of horse hooves and the jingling  of sleigh bells. Following it, Anderson’s “A Christmas Festival” is a jubilant medley of favorite holiday carols, including “Joy to the World” and “Deck the Halls,” and “Jingle Bells,” skillfully interwoven into a seamless tapestry of musical cheer. We conclude with “Posada Mexicana” a rich weave of traditional folk songs reimagined with fresh arrangements. Rooted in the spirit of the tradition of Posadas (“Inns”)—in which neighborhood people reenact the search for a place for Jesus to be born— this medley takes us on a vibrant musical journey through the heart of Mexican culture.

It is rare to hear large scale works in San Miguel with a full orchestra so don’t miss this opportunity to catch some wonderful music which will long echo in your mind. Tickets for the concert are $300 and $500 pesos donation each, with a special 100-peso donation for those under 28 years. They are on sale through our website and at the concert 45 minutes before performance time.

Details of all Pro Musica’s concerts and Patron Membership are on our website:
www.promusicasma.org , or contact us at promusicasma@gmail.com.

Our Patrons’ and Members’ are the lifeblood of Pro Musica.  Subscribe from as little as US$100 a year and make our world class season of concerts and opera possible, as well as funding our extensive education outreach programs.  In return we provide benefits for you which are second to none. These include an Artists Supper/Cocktail after nearly every concert and, starting at US$500 per season, you have reserved and named seats for every concert.   With the ever increasing costs of artists fees, and to provide an efficient customer service process, we need new members, and existing members  to upgrade, to maintain the quality of our concerts and the concert going experience.