[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 109 (Tuesday, September 6, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1754-E1755]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       IN HONOR OF THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SINFONIA MEXICANA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 6, 2005

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise to pay 
tribute to the Sinfonia Mexicana, on the occasion of its 20th 
anniversary.
  This important institution, located in San Bernardino, has been 
thrilling audiences since 1985, when Mario Porras and Charles Eisenhard 
inspired members of the Inland Empire Symphony Association, local civic 
leaders, and then Consul of Mexico Emerenciano Rodriguez, to form a 
committee to present a unique concert of Mexico's symphonic 
masterpieces. Consul Rodriguez was selected to chair the committee for 
this exciting endeavor. The concert was a tremendous success! Enthused, 
the committee continued to present annual state-of-the-art musical and 
culturally enriching programs for the enjoyment of the entire 
community.
  The purpose of this organization is to present the finest music 
compositions of Mexico to the Inland Empire. In addition to its 
outstanding music programming, the group has committed numerous 
volunteer hours and financial contributions throughout these many 
years, with participation of organizations and individuals that shared 
in the identical goal of program development and other auxiliary 
components.
  The current success of the Sinfonia Mexicana has been recognized as 
an outstanding achievement in the Inland Empire and beyond. It is a 
well-established fact that Mexican folkloric music is enormously 
popular and world-renowned; however, what was relatively unknown to 
many people locally, was Mexico's veritable treasure of classical and 
symphonic music created by notable composers and arrangers--many of 
whom Sinfonia showcased over the past 19 years. They included: Carlos 
Chavez, Pablo Moncayo, Manuel M. Ponce, Silvestre Revueltas, Miguel 
Bernal, Blas Galindo, Juventino Rosa, Enrique Mora, Manuel Enriques, 
Ricardo Castro, Candelario Huizar, Felipe Villanueva, and others. To be 
sure, Chavez's ``Sinfonia India'' is a fine example of the unification 
of Yaqui and Seri indigenous melodies into a symphonic masterpiece.
  A typical Sinfonia program of Mexican classical music often features 
a guest conductor and/or artists from Mexico performing with the San 
Bernardino Symphony Orchestra at the historic California Theatre of 
Performing Arts in San Bernardino. Guest conductors have included 
Abraham Chavez, Sergio Cardenas, Francisco Savin, Guadalupe Flores, 
Eduardo Diazmunoz, Enrique Diemecke, Jose Hernandez, Stewart Robertson, 
and Jeff Nevin. On two occasions Sinfonia had the distinction to host 
the ``Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Mexico'' in San Bernardino. On 
their first visit, Maestro Francisco Savin served as musical director.
  Sinfonia has presented a variety of special performances by 
outstanding ensembles from Mexico and Southern California. Sinfonia is 
now organized as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and yet maintains 
its volunteer-driven mission to foster the awareness of Mexico's 
symphonic musical masterpieces, and educate the public of the fine 
music and culture of Mexico.
  Mr. Speaker, that is a resume of the substantial achievements of this 
important cultural institution. My family and I enjoy this music. We 
encourage everyone in the community to partake of this great resource.
  I ask that a more detailed history of Sinfonia be included in the 
Congressional Record, for public display and historical preservation. 
And again, I say: thank you to Sinfonia, for preserving these important 
musical traditions!

                Sinfonia Mexicana--A Historical Overview

       Sinfonia Mexicana has been thrilling audiences since 1985 
     when Mario Porras and Charles Eisenhard inspired members of 
     the Inland Empire Symphony Association, local civic leaders, 
     and then Consul of Mexico Emerenciano Rodriguez, to form a 
     committee to present a unique concert of Mexico's 
     symphonic masterpieces. Consul Rodriguez was selected to 
     chair the committee for this exciting endeavor. The 
     concert was a tremendous success! Enthused, the committee 
     continued to present annual state-of-the-art musical and 
     culturally enriching programs for the enjoyment of the 
     entire community.
       It is a well-established fact that Mexican folkloric music 
     is enormously popular and world-renowned, however, what was 
     relatively unknown to many people locally, was Mexico's 
     veritable treasure of classical and symphonic music created 
     by notable composers and arrangers--many of whom Sinfonia 
     showcased over the past 19 years. They included: Carlos 
     Chavez, Pablo Moncayo, Manuel M. Ponce, Silvestre Revueltas, 
     Miguel Bernal, Blas Galindo, Juventino Rosa, Enrique Mora, 
     Manuel Enriques, Ricardo Castro, Candelario Huizar, Felipe 
     Villanueva, and others. To be sure, Chavez's ``Sinfonia 
     India'' is a fine example of the unification of Yaqui and 
     Seri indigenous melodies into a symphonic masterpiece.
       A typical Sinfonia program of Mexican classical music often 
     features a guest conductor and/or artists from Mexico 
     performing with the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra at the 
     historic California Theatre of Performing Arts in San 
     Bernardino. Guest conductors have included Abraham Chavez, 
     Sergio Cardenas, Francisco Savin, Guadalupe Flores, Eduardo 
     Diazmunoz, Enrique Diemecke, Jose Hernandez, Stewart 
     Robertson, and Jeff Nevin. On two occasions Sinfonia had the 
     distinction to host the ``Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de 
     Mexico'' in San Bernardino. On their first visit, Maestro 
     Francisco Savin served as musical director. On their second, 
     Maestro Enrique Diemecke directed the Orquesta as part of a 
     national tour of seven U.S. cities in honor of the 100th 
     birthday celebration of Mexico's premier composers Carlos 
     Chavez and Silvestre Revueltas (Diemecke is currently the 
     artistic director of the Long Beach Symphony). Instrumental 
     guest soloists have included Carlos Prieto, cello; Jorge 
     Juarez and Maria Teresa Rodriguez, piano; Miguel Alcazar, 
     guitar; Roman Revueltas, violin; Elena Duran, flute; and 
     Manuel Arpero, trumpet. Sinfonia commissioned Maestros Mateo 
     Oliva and Mario Kuri-Aldana to arrange into symphonic form 
     romantic ballads by beloved Mexican composer, Agustiin Lara. 
     The world premiere of the concert in San Bernardino was an 
     international sensation. That cutting edge program was the 
     most popular classical concert ever presented in the Inland 
     Empire--drawing audiences from Mexico City, Los Angeles, San 
     Diego, and beyond. Special guests included Lara's widow and 
     famous contemporary songwriter, Roberto Cantoral, and 
     numerous luminaries.
       Sinfonia has presented a variety of special performances by 
     outstanding ensembles from Mexico and Southern California. 
     They featured the West Coast premiere of ``Navidades'' by the 
     internationally acclaimed Ballet Folklorico de Amalia 
     Hernandez from Mexico City. And, from Baja California, 
     Sinfonia presented ``Bastian y Bastiana'' Mozart's comic 
     opera performed by a student group, Grupo Juvenil de Tijuana. 
     Moreover, Sinfonia presented the West Coast premiere of the 
     first Chicano opera, ``Esperanza'' composed by David Bishop 
     and the libretto by Carlos Morton based on the classic cult 
     film, ``Salt of the Earth.'' The opera was performed by the 
     Euterpe Opera Theatre of Pasadena, which featured soprano 
     Ariella Vaccarino and tenor Eric Castro.

[[Page E1755]]

       Quintessentially popular mariachi performances have 
     included the legendary Los Camperos de Nati Cano, Sol de 
     Mexico de Jose Hernandez, Las Reinas de Los Angeles, Mariachi 
     Mujer, Mariachi Divas, and Mariachi Champana. Other diverse 
     artists included Latin jazz great, Tito Puente, the romantic 
     trio, Los Tres Reyes, famed folklorists Tlen Huicani 
     (Veracruz), and the brilliant Ballet Folklorico del Pacifico. 
     The famous pop artist, Vikki Carr graced Sinfonia's 
     portfolio, as did Alicia Juarez (widow of Jose Alfredo 
     Jimenez), Lalo Guerrero, Mayor Judith Valles, sopranos Maria 
     Luisa Tamez and Florencia Tinoco; tenors Alejandro Guerrero, 
     Pedro Rey, Raul Hernandez, Dennis Meade, Daniel Hendricks, 
     and the West Coast debut of tenor Daniel Rodriguez performing 
     with a symphony orchestra (the former New York police officer 
     who awed the nation with his rendition of ``God Bless 
     America'' in the aftermath of 9-11). Sinfonia endeavors to 
     help promote the musical careers of local young aspiring 
     artists such as Elizabeth Quintero and Desiree Flores. 
     Sinfonia supported the very first youth mariachi in the 
     region, Mariachi Estudiantil and founder Lou Herz, whom 
     Sinfonia sponsored for several years, and supported the debut 
     of the region's first all-girl, Mariachi las Princesas.
       Sinfonia is now organized as a non-profit 501(c)(3) 
     organization and yet maintains its volunteer-driven mission 
     to foster the awareness of Mexico's symphonic musical 
     masterpieces, and educate the public of the fine music and 
     culture of Mexico. The board of directors and staff invite 
     interested members of the community to become involved in 
     Sinfonia Mexicana programs.

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