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Music of the Americas

Eugene Concert Choir,  Juan Eduardo Wolf and the Américas Ensemble

Diane Retallack, Artistic Director & Conductor

Sunday, February 25, 2024
2:30 pm

Silva Hall, Hult Center

Take a musical journey across the Americas, as the Eugene Concert Choir tours the rich and diverse musical traditions from Canada to South America and from Hawaii to Puerto Rico. With music ranging from classical and indigenous to folk and popular styles, this concert promises a fantastic variety of artistic experiences that will captivate and inspire.

 

On this grand expedition, we will visit Nova Scotia and Québec in Canada, music from throughout the cultures of the USA including a Native American presentation with drumming and singing by Fish Martinez, songs by African American, Hawaiian and Puerto Rican composers, plus folk, popular, and classical compositions. Then we will head South through Mexico, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica and continue on to South America, visiting Ecuador, Venezuela, Uruguay, Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil! Join us as we tour the vibrant and colorful tapestry of music from across the Americas.

Curious about the music? 

Listen to a mini playlist featuring 5 songs we will be performing in Music of the Americas!

Special Guest Artists:

Juan Eduardo Wolf and the Américas Ensemble

World Music Specialist Juan Eduardo Wolf brings a wealth of experience and passion to the stage, enriching the Music of the Americas concert experience with his deep connection to the music and cultures of Latin America. Born in Santiago, Chile but raised in the US, he learned his first cueca strums on the guitar from his mother while in high school. Since then, he has used music and dance to both understand his roots and share the richness and complexity of Latin American culture with others. He has done research in the Andean highlands, the Amazonian lowlands, as well as Pacific coast and Caribbean cities. 

Wolf will lead the Américas Ensemble, a talented group of musicians accompanying the choir with instruments appropriate to the many musical styles demonstrated in this concert:

Rafael Arias  

Music was part of Rafael Arias’s everyday life when growing up. Born in Otavalo, Ecuador, through music, Arias had the opportunity to visit many countries and play in many venues. He specializes in Andean music but also plays a variety of other styles and genres. Arias plays the charango, guitar, mandolin, and various wind instruments including the rondador, zampoña, and quena.     

Reilly Gault

Reilly Gault, a Dynamic young percussionist, passionately explores rhythms from around the globe with a focus on the rich traditions of the African diaspora. He accompanied the ECC last year in the Missa Gaia, and he is earning himself fans and endorsements through his various social media channels. 

Ricardo Llamas

For nearly 30 years, Ricardo Llamas has been moving through the Eugene music scene playing bass to experience all the Willamette Valley has to offer.  Besides the funk, soul, rock, country, and Americana, he came to play, he has supported visiting musicians from Mexico, Spain, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Hawaii and more.

Just announced:

Fish Martinez |  Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians   

Fish Martinez, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians with Shasta, Shasta Costa, Yurok, Modoc, Mescalero Apache, and Azteca heritage, will join the Music of the Americas concert for a Native American presentation that includes drumming and singing. Martinez is an educator of 25 plus years: Infant, Wobbler, Toddler, Preschool, HeadStart, K-12th.  As a hip hop emcee, he works with youth via Beats, Lyrics, Leaders as a mentor and a member of the Hip Hop Congress, working with youth that are incarcerated, on probation or a member of the BeatsLyricsLeaders.com community chapter. 

Born in Eugene, Oregon, he is a former student of Magnet Arts in Eugene. 

We celebrate, we fight, we mourn, we unite in adversity, we dance for joy, we Lift Every Voice and Sing! We create, explore, comfort, praise, triumph, fall... We love, we love, we love, and we express it all through music.

Adult tickets by section, A- $52, B- $43, C- $34, D- $25
Youth and Student $10
(Additional fees may apply)

Discounts for Youth & Seniors

Eugene Concert Choir is pleased to provide both youth and senior discounts to encourage attendance by all members of our community!

For more information regarding ticket purchases, please contact the Hult Center at
(541) 682-5000.

All other inquiries, please call the Eugene Concert Choir office at (541) 687-6865

Sponsored by

Date, Time & Location

Sunday, February 25, 2024
2:30 pm

Silva Hall, Hult Center

Adult tickets by section:

A- $52, B- $43, C- $34, D- $25
Youth and Student $10
(Additional fees may apply)

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