LAS CRUCES, NM - The Consulate General of Mexico in El Paso and the City of Las Cruces, New Mexico are pleased to announce a free performance by the Esperanza Azteca Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of Ciudad Juárez Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 3 pm in the Oñate High School Auditorium, 5700 Mesa Grande Drive.
Created through the Esperanza Azteca project, the symphony orchestra and chorus is made up of approximately 150 children from Juárez ages five to 17. Created in 2010 under the direction of Artistic Director Guillermo Quezada Novela, the groups made their debut in June 2011, delivering an outstanding performance, allowing them to participate in various national and international cultural forums in the United States and Mexico.
Esperanza Azteca is a social project driven by Fundación Azteca with the purpose of promoting the personal growth of children and young Mexicans. Since 2009 Esperanza Azteca has benefited more than 16,000 youngsters through the teaching of music. Its members have not only developed musical skills, but also values such as discipline, the pursuit of excellence, and teamwork. Overall, this is an effort supported by Mexico's federal government, several State governments, local foundations, and Grupo Salinas.
Originally from Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Quezada graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) with a bachelor's degree in Music Education and a master's degree in Viola Performance. He has held various positions in several orchestras in the region including Assistant Director of the Symphony Orchestra of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Director of Gilbert & Sullivan Co., Director of El Paso Philharmonic Strings, and Director of the Youth Orchestra of the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez (UACJ). As an instrumentalist he has held the role of principal viola in the Symphony Orchestra of El Paso, the Symphony Orchestra of Las Cruces and the UACJ Symphony Orchestra. Among his extensive musical experience, he is noteworthy for his role in the field of music education as instructor of violin, viola and chamber music at UACJ, UTEP, and the New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. He currently serves as Program Coordinator of the Bachelor in Music program at UACJ and Artistic Director for the Esperanza Azteca Ciudad Juarez Program.
Past performances of the Esperanza Azteca Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of Ciudad Juarez are available through the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHO3kFBZvZU