Museum of South Texas History To Host Weekend Of Musical Performances, Activities
EDINBURG, Texas — The Museum of South Texas History invites the community to enjoy a weekend of activities and performances.
On May 7, “From Baroque to the 21st Century, Viola & Guitar Recital,” a musical performance featuring Joel Págan and Hector Javier Rodriguez Santos, will start at 11 a.m. in the museum’s Courtyard Gallery.
This recital features faculty from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley: Págan, who will play the viola, and Rodriguez Santos, Ph. D., who will play the guitar. The duo will showcase how the viola and guitar can produce beautiful music together, a combination that is not often seen in recital halls. The music to be performed will feature music composed by Telemann, Kleyjans, Camino, Rebay and Piazzola.
Pagán has appeared as a soloist with orchestras with the Valley Symphony, Laredo Philharmonic, Monterey Bay Sinfonietta, UTRGV Symphony, Puerto Rico Conservatory Symphony and the Conservatorio de Música del Estado de Puebla Symphony. He has degrees from Michigan State University, University of Akron, and the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico. Currently, Pagán is a professor of viola at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Rodriguez Santos joined The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley faculty in the fall of 2014, where he serves as director of the guitar ensemble and lecturer of applied guitar. Prior to his appointment at UTRGV, Rodriguez Santos served on the faculty of the Escuela Preparatoria, Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, and South Texas College.
Celebrate “Mother’s Day at the Museum” from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. with musical performances and a letter writing activity on Sunday, May 8.
Guests will have the opportunity to hand write a letter to their mothers at the letter writing station in the Annex Hallway. Paper, envelopes and complimentary postage stamps will be provided. That means letter writers can send a heartfelt thank you to their mothers across the country. To complement this activity, “Letters Home” spotlight exhibit will display letters written by Medal of Honor recipient, Sgt. Alfredo “Freddy” González, who sent letters to his mother, Dolia González, while on his two military tours during the Vietnam War.
The program will also honor mothers with serenatas performed by student and professional mariachi groups. The program will kick off in the Courtyard Gallery with a performance by the Barrientes Middle School Mariachi Azteca Rojo and South Middle School Mariachi Sur. Both groups are directed by Mr. Juan Amaro.
Following the performances, Mariachi Azucenas will continue the music with more serenatas. Mariachi Azucenas is a professional all-female mariachi group who has performed since 2002. The group is comprised of 13 members who are also teachers, business entrepreneurs and professionals.
Weekend programming is included in the regular museum admission fees. For more information, please contact Community Engagement Officer René Ballesteros at [email protected] or calling the museum at 956-383-6911.
The Museum of South Texas History is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is located downtown Edinburg at 200 North Closner Boulevard on the Hidalgo County Courthouse square. Founded in 1967 as the Hidalgo County Historical Museum in the 1910 Hidalgo County Jail, the museum has grown over the decades through a series of expansions to occupy a full city block. In 2003, following the completion of a 22,500 square foot expansion, the museum was renamed the Museum of South Texas History to better reflect its regional scope. Today, the museum preserves and presents the borderland heritage of South Texas and northeastern Mexico through its permanent collection and the Margaret H. McAllen Memorial Archives and exhibits spanning prehistory through the 20th century. For more information about MOSTHistory, including becoming a FRIEND, visit MOSTHistory.org, like us on Facebook and Instagram, follow on Twitter, find on YouTube or call +1-956-383-6911.