Houston, TX, AUGUST, 2021 — Ars Lyrica Houston, the Grammy-nominated early music ensemble, announces its catalogue of community programming that includes bilingual, social-emotional, and a bespoke storybook performance alongside a broad curriculum of supporting materials. The programs focus on helping students explore identity and emotion through the lens of historical performance. Information and booking can be obtained at www.arslyricahouston.org.
Ars Lyrica has invested heavily in their community programming over the last year. Two original programs, Orígenes and Musical Detectives, offer interactive virtual experiences for early and late primary audiences accompanied by a wealth of supplementary learning materials for both parents/teachers and their students. A comprehensive introduction to classical music performance, covering a wide range of topics from studying historical sources to collaborating within a team, is offered through the bilingual Orígenes program that introduces students to Spanish and Latin American cultures with vocal and instrumental music. Musical Detectives explores self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship skills with interactive exercises that incorporate music from the Baroque to illustrate concepts.
Both programs are curated by mezzo-soprano Cecilia Duarte and percussionist Jesús Pacheco: mainstage artists who deliver the highest performance quality and instructional experience. “Even for an ensemble specializing in rarely-heard Baroque masterpieces, the repertoire presented in these performances is exciting. It is outside of the regular rotation of familiar standards, so it is inspiring for both new and seasoned listeners,” says Outreach Manager Emma Wine. “I love that children are being introduced to music that even adults have yet to hear!”
In addition to managing these two program suites, Wine has also authored a book that serves as another new engagement tool for in person audiences. With support from Connie Kwan-Wong and the CKW Luxe Magazine which underwrote the project, Maria’s Magical Musical Adventure is a time travel story with vivid illustrations that illuminate the thrill of history coming alive on the stage of a concert hall for a young listener. A graduate of Rice School of Music’s composition program, Wine has also written an accompanying string quartet that will be played in addition to music from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons to bring the story to life.
For more information and scheduling, please contact Emma Wine ewine@arslyricahouston.org or call (713) 622-7443.
Founded in 1998 by harpsichordist and conductor Matthew Dirst, Ars Lyrica Houston presents a diverse array of music in its original context while creating connections to contemporary life. Intelligent programming features neglected gems alongside familiar masterworks, and extracts the dramatic potential, emotional resonance, and expressive power of music. Its local subscription series, according to the Houston Chronicle, “sets the agenda” for early music in Houston. Ars Lyrica appears regularly at international festivals and conferences because of its distinctive focus, and its pioneering efforts in the field of authentic performance have won international acclaim.
