Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston
OFFICERS Marcos Calderon MD President/ Chairman of the Board Randall Stenoien President Elect Maria del Carmen Gomez Secretary Jose L. Rodriguez Treasurer George Diaz-Arrastia Past President Board of Directors Miguel A. Gutierez Gustavo Hincapie Carlos Lara Juan Manuel Ramos Arnoldo Richards Maria Rocha Adriana Velasquez Martin Yudovich Mario Zamora
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September 23, 2017
t is a privilege and an honor as President of the Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston (IHCH), to welcome all to the 33rd Annual Dia de la Hispanidad (Day of the Hispanic World) at Miller Outdoor Theatre (MOT) in Hermann Park.
Since 1983, the Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston has sponsored numerous unforgettable programs highlighting the music and dance of the Hispanic world. Tonight, Puer to Rico, La Isla del Encanto, is honored with the performance of the acclaimed ensemble Gar y Nuñez & Plena Libre, who infuse their contemporar y Caribbean compositions with a deep sense of the unique indigenous musical traditions. Tonight’s event would not be possible without a matching grant from Miller Outdoor Advisor y Board (MTAB) through the City of Houston. Special thanks to Fiesta Mar t, Inc. and Goya Foods, as well as to all those companies and businesses that have placed ads in this year’s beautiful magazine program. We encourage all to suppor t our adver tisers. Our gratitude also extends to Univision Channel 45 and UniMás67 for their generous in-kind media sponsorship. The annual Dia de la Hispanidad presentation would not be possible without the talent, devotion and volunteerism of the members of the 2017 IHCH Folkloric Festival Committee-- Lia Tusanotte, Nelly Fraga and Hor tensia Wellborn. We also thank Cissy Segall Davis, the MTAB staff, and the technical staff of Miller Outdoor Theatre for their collaboration to guarantee the success of this wonderful event. I encourage all to join the IHCH as members and to continue to learn more about the beauty and histor y of the Hispanic Culture. You will find a membership application in this magazine program After the incredibly emotional forecast that challenged many of us in different ways, I thank you for being here today. Please continue to make Houston the most diverse and culturally appreciated City in our Nation.
713 528 1492 3315 3315 Sul Ross St, Houston, TX. 77098 institute@ihch.org www.ihch.org
Most sincerely,
Dr. Marcos Calderon President and Chairman of the Board Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Lia Tusanotte COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Nelly Fraga - Hortensia Wellborn Producer Stage Manager Magazine Program Coordinator Programa Design Printing Photography Videography Image Magnification Light, Sound and Scenic Coordinators
Lia Tusanotte Karen Mata Hortensia Wellborn Genera Media Graphic Design Roger Printing Al-Fin Photography LaraNet, Inc. Runaway Productions LLC Miller Theatre Crew
PROGRAM IHCH Introduction
Lia Tusanotte Folkloric Festival Chair
IHCH Message from the President
Dr. Marcos Calderon
Mistress of Ceremonies
Marcela Perez Univision 45/UniMas 67 TV
Projection on Screen Recognition
Himno a las Américas Miller Theatre Advisory Board 95th Anniversary Miller Outdoor Theatre
The best of Afro-Caribbean Music
Gary Nunñez & Plena Libre Love’s Journey
INTERMISSION Recognition The best of Afro-Caribbean Music
Proclamation to Gary Nuñez and Plena Libre Gary Nunñez & Plena Libre Love’s Journey
PLENA LIBRE
Hard-hitting horns, master hand drummers, and songs from the soul of Puerto Rico Sonidos de la trompetas, de las percusiones y canciones del alma de Puerto Rico.
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aptivating and moving audiences over the course of a 23-year, 15-album career, this finetuned Puerto Rican-based ensemble of virtuoso musicians has only gotten better with age, as evidenced by their four recent Grammy nominations and world-wide touring schedule. Plena Libre infuses their contemporary Caribbean compositions with a deep sense of the unique indigenous musical traditions, known as “plena” and “bomba”, which developed on the island over a century ago. Unlike salsa bands, who usually only have two singers, Plena Libre features three vocalists singing in lush three and four part harmonies; a musical representation of a traditional community gathering. Further giving their live performances a memorable standout quality, occasionally, the entire band will vocalize the percussion parts of the plena, creating an a cappella polyphonic polyrhythm.These artistic choices drive home the core of the tradition in an aesthetic that appeals to broad audiences and aficionados alike. With an aggressive, tight, yet sensitive style, which balances the traditional with the contemporary, the global and the local, Plena Libre creates a brand of music and live performance that is both profoundly Puerto Rican and universally appealing. Filtering the sounds of various Afro-Caribbean forms like merengue and cumbia, and Afro-Cuban like mambo and yes, salsa if you ask nicely through a unique set of artistic sensibilities, this versatile collection of expert performers create a celebratory spectacle and engaging sonic ecstasy. Thrilling audiences around the world, from the Fez Festival (in Morocco) to the Playboy Jazz Festival, Plena Libre is a train that just keeps picking up steam as it charges ahead in unexpected and exciting directions.
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undado en 1994 por su director Gary Nuñez, PLENA LIBRE es reconocido como el principal exponente de la plena y la bomba puertorriqueña en y fuera de Puerto Rico y ha logrado con su orquesta en este viaje reinventar el sonido tradicional de la plena y bomba de Puerto Rico. Durante este tiempo, Gary y su grupo han grabado 15 álbumes que le han merecido cuatro nominaciones a los premios Grammy. El sonido y la energía de Plena Libre es moderno, con proyección al futuro, con una fuerza abrumadora a la vez que se arraiga firmemente en las tradiciones musicales de Puerto Rico. La plena y la bomba están en la base de la estructura compositiva de las canciones y de la formación instrumental, que incluye panderos - los tambores de mano usados en la plena tradicional; está también en el estilo de los soneros de Plena Libre. El trombón es quizás el instrumento de viento más identificado con Puerto Rico; la sección de trombones de Plena Libre orgullosamente demuestra el sonido de la isla a la vez que deriva su presencia en la versión de Plena Libre de tradiciones afro-riqueñas, de los maestros Eddie Palmieri y Mon Rivera. Gary Núñez también ha agregado el piano, el bajo, timbal, conga, y percusión miscelánea para crear una sección formidable del ritmo, combinando la tradicional bomba y la plena con otros ritmos del Caribe. El sonido que resulta es fuerte, enérgico, pero a la vez sofisticado, adaptando el folklore al bailador sin perder el estilo de la calle. Al llevar su sin igual espectáculo por el mundo, el grupo ha logrado llevar su sonido Afro-Riqueño por diferentes festivales desde Montreal a Milano y de Dinamarca a Veracruz, así como a los prestigiosos Centros de Bellas Artes como el Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Hopkins Center de la Universidad de Dartmouth hasta lugares como Okoboji, Iowa.
Recientemente Plena Libre fue el protagonista del primer concierto de plena y bomba realizado por La Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico en sus más de cincuenta años de existencia, logrando llenar la sala a capacidad. Plena Libre fusiona la cumbia, merengue, salsa y otros sonidos Afro-Caribeños en sus arreglos para crear un “sofrito borinqueño”, creando el sonido de la plena y la bomba moderna. Con la incorporación de grandes músicos puertorriqueños a Plena Libre, Gary ha logrado superar los inicios del grupo- desarrollando lo que indudablemente es una de las orquestas élite en la escena latina actual de la música.
PLENA LIBRE DISCOGRAPHY 1998
Plena Libre
2004
1999
Justos y Libre
2005 Evolución
1999 De Parranda en Navidad 2000
Mas Libre
( In 2001 was a Latin Grammy nom inated in the category “Best Tropical Traditional Album”,The nomination represented the first nomination for a Puerto Rican group in the category)
2003
Mi Ritmo
(Was a Grammy and Latin Grammy nominated in the category “Best Tropical Traditional Album” )
Estamos Gozando
(In 2006 was a Latin Grammy nominated in the category “Best Tropical Traditional Album”)
2005
Estamos Gozando
2008
(Live from Monterrey, Mexico)
2011
Regalo de Navidad
Plena Al Salsero
2013 Corazón 2017 Amores en el Camino
“Plena Libre is one of the most outstanding shows we’ve ever had... superlative and excellent in every way!” — Michael Savage, Napa Valley Opera House
Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston, Inc. (IHCH) 3315 Sul Ross St. – Houston, TX 77098 Phone: 713 528 1492 email: institute@ihch.org www.ihch.org
The Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston (IHCH) is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit organization, founded in 1965 by a group of professionals living in Houston interested in preserving, enhancing and promulgating the Hispanic culture and language inherited from Spain and Latin America.The IHCH mission is to disseminate and preserve the rich Hispanic culture, and to highlight the historical, linguistic, scientific, and artistic achievements of Hispanics or Latin-Americans, particularly Hispanics and Latin-Americans residing in Houston,Texas. The IHCH serves the Houston community through a wide range of cultural and educational programs, often in collaboration with local universities, the Texas Commission for the Arts through the Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County, and other organizations. Cultural activities are funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance (HAA).The range of cultural activities includes: • • • •
visual arts, sculpture exhibits, public space installations, conceptual future media historical, literary, and linguistics lectures folklore, poetry, dances, theatre, and musical presentations social studies and international business panel discussions
Education is a top priority for the IHCH.To date, the Scholarship Program has awarded scholarships to high school and university students as well as high school Spanish teachers. The scholarships are for continued studies in the Spanish or Portuguese language, literature, and culture, including music, visual arts, and dance. Hispanic High School and College students from local universities may remain in Houston or elect to use the scholarship funds to participate in university sponsored programs in Spain, Portugal or Latin American countries. The IHCH presents more than one hundred events per year, the two most well-known being the Folkloric Festival, and “Noche de las Américas” Gala.The Annual Folkloric Festival in Miller Outdoor Theater located at Hermann Park, is a four hour, professionally produced, theatrical presentation of the music and dance of the Hispanic world. This free night performance honoring the Day of the Hispanic World, attracts an audience of over 8,000 people.The “Noche de las Americas” Gala, commemorating Columbus Day on October 12th, is a traditional affair, with a beautiful parade of all the Latin American and Spanish flags carried by well-known public figures and prominent Texas citizens. To show its community spirit, the IHCH brightens the Christmas season for children and their families at the “Encuentro Artístico y Cultural Hispano-Latino,” and the Three Wise Men Arrival to Houston. At the Encuentro Artístico, more than 80 performers, musicians, and crafters from Spain and Latin-American show their talent. At the Three Wise Men celebration, the IHCH provides games, songs, and foods from Spain and Latin-America. Please, visit the Calendar of Events at www.ihch.org for more information about our performances and events.
The Guiding Principles of the IHCH are the following: • • • • •
To share a passionate commitment to increase opportunities for unknown and talented artists. To commit ourselves to honesty, integrity, and the highest professional and ethical standards To cultivate initiative and leadership within a spirit of teamwork through our committees To value promotion and preservation of our bicultural heritage and bilingual skills To welcome the involvement of all who share the IHCH mission, and principles
Thanks to the City of Houston grants, and to the late Mr. Keith Jackson, the IHCH owns its building located at 3315 Sul Ross St., Houston,TX 77098. Due to its central location and the need of many Houston associations for a venue, the IHCH serves as an umbrella for the many other Hispanic and Latin-American clubs and associations. Due to the donations and dedication of its members and patrons, the IHCH can present all of the above events. In order to continue this long standing traditions and to do even more, we need your help and support. Please, consider becoming a member of the IHCH by visiting www.ihch.org, and selecting tab Become a Member for the different levels of membership. Membership contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS All Members receive the following general benefits: • Discounts for IHCH Programs and events • Invitations to special member events such as the Swearing-In Ceremony and Annual Membership Meeting • Advance notice and ticketing for all IHCH events and performances • Assigned tickets to attend the Folkloric Festival/Day of the Hispanic World at the Miller Outdoor Theater (MOT). The IHCH would hold the tickets in a table located in the front entrance of the Miller Outdoor Theatre office. Any unclaimed seats are released 5 minutes before the show begins.
MEMBERSHIP LEVELS Student Membership ($20) Includes all General Membership Levels for one person
Family Membership ($100) Includes all benefits of the Individual Membership for up to 2 people. Patron Membership ($150) Includes all benefits of a Family Membership level, plus • Eligibility opportunity to be part of the IHCH Board of Directors Sponsor Membership ($750) Includes all benefits of Patron Membership level, plus • 20% discount on two tickets to one IHCH performance of your choice Contributor Membership ($2,000) Includes all benefits of Sponsor Membership Level, plus • 20% discount on two additional tickets to one IHCH performance of your choice
Individual Membership ($60) Includes all General Membership Benefits for one person, plus • 25% discount on IHCH facility rentals
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Name of Member
Country of Origin
Name of Spouse
Country of Origin
Residence Address
City & State
Phone:
Email:
Business Address
City of State
Tel:
Email:
Send Mail to: Residence
Business
IHCH Member Sponsor:
Date:
*Membership Category / Annual Dues
Please select the committee in which you would like to participate.
( ( ( ( ( (
( ( ( ( ( (
) ) ) ) ) )
Contributor Sponsor Patron Family Individual Student
$2000.00 $750.00 $150.00 $100.00 $60.00 $20.00
) ) ) ) ) )
Building Community Service Cultural Folkloric Festival “Noche de las Américas” Gala Jose Marti Literary Contest
( ( ( ( (
) ) ) ) )
Membership Social & Special Events Public Relations Scholarship and Awards Performing Arts
METHOD OF PAYMENT •
Check #
Amount $
Please make check payable to: Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston, Inc. •
By Phone, call to 713 528 1492 using Credit Card Master Card Visa Discover American Express Card # Expiration Date Zip code •
Email:
CVV #
Signature Phone Number:
Online: www.ihch.org - select tab Become a Member. You can pay online using your credit card or your PayPal account. If you would like to make a donation, please click the DONATE button.