Firelands Symphony Orchestra will give free family concerts Fiesta Mexicana – Morning Journal
The Firelands Symphony Orchestra presents two free Fiesta Mexicana family concerts with songs that pay homage to Mexican and Latino composers, music and culture, according to a press release.
The first performance will be April 30 at Perkins High School Auditorium, 3714 Campbell St. in Perkins Township, and the second will be May 1 at Norwalk High School Auditorium, 350 Shady Lane Drive.
Children’s craft and music activities begin at 3:00 p.m., followed by a concert with full orchestra at 4:00 p.m.
These events are free and open to the public, thanks to the generous support of the Randolph J. & Estelle M. Dorn Foundation and the Ohio Arts Council. Perkins sponsors are: The Lange Trust of Sandusky Library; The Sam S. and Rose Stein Foundation; and Michelle Wightman – Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation.
Norwalk’s sponsors are the Geotrac Foundation and Cavista Bank.
These free concerts feature a variety of song styles, from classical to popular music. The full orchestra, under the direction of Carl Topilow, will be joined by a special performance by dancers from Viva Dance Studio, according to the statement.
The orchestra will perform songs that pay homage to various composers of Mexican and Latin descent, including Gabriel Musella, Quirino Mendoza y Cortés, Pascual Marquina Narro and many others, according to the statement.
This dynamic program also includes songs from popular music, such as Oye Como Va by Tito Puente, and a mix of Gloria Estefan’s greatest hits.
Also included are other Mexican-style orchestrations like Robert Wendel.
Prior to each concert, the Firelands Symphony Orchestra will host musical arts and crafts for children, according to the statement.
Families are encouraged to come early to enjoy the festivities, which include making your own musical instruments to take home.
Keeping with the Fiesta Mexicana theme, kids can create and decorate their own working maracas and tambourines to get them excited about the concert program and encourage musical play and exploration at home.
For more information, visit firelandssymphony.com/events or dial 419 621-4800 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Thursday.