Christopher Tucker: Blog/Journal

Yesterday could have been just any old Sunday, filled with cleaning, playing a little Sudoku or watching TV. Sunday as is the 7th day could be a day to rest, but not for the energetic and vibrant musicians of the Lone Star Wind Orchestra. No, the LSWO organization put on a show worthy of greatness, performing a musical tribute to the Hispanic culture through song and dance, celebrating the strength and vibrancy of Dallas’ and the surrounding cities' Hispanic community. The program included works by Spanish composers Joaquin Turina and Isaac Albeniz as well as Hispanic-inspired works by American composers like Roger Nixon and Michael Gandolfi. Eugene Corporon and the Lone Star Wind Orchestra also welcomed to the stage the Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico, one of the premier Hispanic dance companies in the United States. And we were all honored to have the founder, Ms. Anita Martinez, in the audience to enjoy the concert with us. A highlight came in the second half when the dancers joined the ensemble for H. Owen Reed’s "La Fiesta Mexicana." The audience gave a standing ovation for, as Scott Cantrell of the Dallas Morning News stated, a “snazzy” performance, playing with “great panache.”