Celebrity Series of Boston Neighborhood Arts Presents a Series of Concerts Celebrating Latina Bandleaders
Performances begin September 17 with a film screening and concert by Fabiola Méndez, and run through May 2023 with performances by Verónica Robles, Sheila del Bosque Fuentes, and Patricia Zárate Pérez
For the complete concert calendar, visit https://www.celebrityseries.org/live-performances/performance-event-calendar/
(For Immediate Release, Boston—September 8, 2022) Celebrity Series of Boston Neighborhood Arts presents a series of concerts celebrating Latina bandleaders who put their own spin on traditional styles. In partnership with Ágora Cultural Architects, all four concerts take place at the Arlington Street Church in Back Bay over the course of the 2022/23 season.
Bandleaders Fabiola Méndez, Verónica Robles, Sheila del Bosque Fuentes, and Patricia Zárate Pérez lead their ensembles in celebrating the music and cultures of Puerto Rico, Mexico, Chile, and Cuba.
Robin Baker, Associate Director of Community Engagement, says, “This season, I deliberately decided to showcase more female-led talent by Boston-based bandleaders. In partnership with Elsa Mosquera-Sterenberg from Ágora Cultural Architects, we decided Fabiola Méndez’ “Afrorriqueña” film and concert project would make a great Latina Bandleader series opener, along with Verónica Robles’ popular Día de los Muertos holiday show this October. Since I’m a flutist, a curator from Club Passim recommended I check out accomplished Cuban flutist and Berklee graduate Sheila del Bosque Fuentes, who recently won the 2022 National Flute Association Jazz Flutist Award. Patricia Zárate Pérez and the global activism work she’s well known for at Berklee are a fitting finale to wind up the Neighborhood Arts season in May 2023.”
Saturday, September 17 at 3pm
Arlington Street Church, 25 Arlington Street, Back Bay, Boston, MA 02116
Tickets: Free
The concert portion of this program will also stream on demand beginning September 29 for three months:
https://www.celebrityseries.org/productions/fabiola-mendez-sextet-afrorriquena/
Groundbreaking cuatro virtuoso Fabiola Méndez returns to the Series with her latest project: her sextet from her recent album, “Afrorriqueña.” The music pays tribute to the African influences in Puerto Rican culture, and the afternoon’s performance starts with “Negrura,” a short film by Fabiola Méndez. The Celebrity Series performance starts a nine-city fall tour for Méndez.
Fabiola also makes her first appearance as a Stringfest mentor as she collaborates with young musicians to perform Puerto Rican songs arranged for cuatro, jazz trio, and strings by cellist and conductor Javier Caballero. This event takes place on Saturday, December 10 at 3pm at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, 650 Dudley Street, Dorchester, Boston, MA 02125.
https://www.celebrityseries.org/productions/stringfest-fabiola-mendez-trio/
Learn more about Fabiola Méndez: https://www.fabiolamendezmusic.com/
Verónica Robles All-Female Mariachi: Día de los Muertos
Saturday, October 29 at 3pm
Arlington Street Church, 25 Arlington Street, Back Bay, Boston, MA 02116
Tickets: Free
https://www.celebrityseries.org/productions/veronica-robles-all-female-mariachi/
Iconic Boston arts advocate, community builder, singer, dancer, and choreographer Verónica Robles returns to Neighborhood Arts with her all-female mariachi band to perform selections that celebrate and remember those who have gone before us and bring together the living and the dead.
Learn more about Verónica Robles: https://veronicarobles.com/
Sheila del Bosque Fuentes Quartet
Saturday, April 22 at 3pm
Arlington Street Church, 25 Arlington Street, Back Bay, Boston, MA 02116
Tickets: Free
This program will also stream on demand beginning May 4 for three months
https://www.celebrityseries.org/productions/sheila-del-bosque-fuentes-quartet/
Cuban flutist, composer, and bandleader Sheila del Bosque Fuentes appears with her quartet. Building on a base of Afro-Cuban music with European classical and contemporary jazz elements, del Bosque draws inspiration from all aspects of Cuba, from the sun and sand to the passionate dances to the weariness and nostalgia and everything in between.
Learn more about Sheila del Bosque Fuentes: https://www.sheiladelbosque.com/
Patricia Zárate Pérez Quintet: "Violetas"
Saturday, May 6 at 3pm
Arlington Street Church, 25 Arlington Street, Back Bay, Boston, MA 02116
Tickets: Free
This program will also stream on demand beginning May 18 for three months
https://www.celebrityseries.org/productions/patricia-zarate-perez-quintet/
Chilean tenor saxophonist Patricia Zárate Pérez and her quintet will perform new works and selections from their debut album, “Violetas,” a vibrant record that evokes Zárate Pérez’ travels around the world and the colorful characters she has encountered.
Learn more about Patricia Zárate Pérez: https://patriciazarateperez.com/
ABOUT CELEBRITY SERIES OF BOSTON
Celebrity Series of Boston was founded in 1938 by pianist and impresario Aaron Richmond. Celebrity Series has been bringing the very best performers – from orchestras and chamber ensembles, vocal and piano music, to dance companies, jazz, and more – to Boston’s major concert halls for 84 years. The Celebrity Series of Boston believes in the power of excellence and innovation in the performing arts to enrich life experiences, transform lives, and build better communities. Through its education initiatives, the Celebrity Series seeks to build a community of Greater Boston where the performing arts are a valued, lifelong, shared experience – on stages, on streets, in neighborhoods—everywhere.
Celebrity Series of Boston is grateful to our 2022/23 Season Sponsors Amy & Joshua Boger, 2022/23 Neighborhood Arts Presenting Sponsor Stephanie L. Brown Foundation, and to the many individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies whose generosity supports Arts for All! and helps fulfill our mission to present performing artists who inspire and enrich our community. Individual and institutional supporters include Leslie & Howard Appleby, Barr Foundation through its ArtsAmplified initiative, Stephanie L. Brown Foundation, Amy & Ethan d’Ablemont Burnes, First Republic Bank, Foley & Lardner LLP, Klarman Family Foundation, George & Lizbeth Krupp, Liberty Mutual Foundation, Richard K. Lubin Family Foundation, Susanne Marcus Collins Foundation, Massachusetts Cultural Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Eleanor & Frank Pao, The Reopen Creative Boston Fund, administered by the Boston Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, Schrafft Charitable Trust, Stifler Family Foundation, Yawkey Foundation, U.S. Small Business Administration, Anonymous (3), and many others.
Arts for All! programs are also made possible by support from the LIVE PERFORMANCE! Arts for All Endowment & Innovation Funds of the Celebrity Series of Boston.
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