“Dramas & Caballeros” by Madame Ur y sus hombres accompanied by Orquesta Sinfónica Esperanza Azteca Ciudad Juárez Juvenil
• Presented by the Consulate General of Mexico, Centro Cultural Mexicano Paso del Norte, Chamizal National Memorial and The City of Las Cruces, N.M. • El Paso: Friday, May 6th, 2016, at 7:00 pm, at the Chamizal National Memorial Auditorium (800 S. San Marcial St., El Paso, Tx., 79901). • Las Cruces: Saturday, May 7th, at 8:00 pm, at the Rio Grande Theater (211 N. Main St., Las Cruces, N.M. 88001). • Free Admission
The Consulate General of Mexico in El Paso, Centro Cultural Mexicano Paso del Norte, the Chamizal National Memorial and the City of Las Cruces, N.M. are pleased to invite the binational community of the Paso del Norte region to the concerts “Dramas & Caballeros” by Madame Ur y sus hombres, accompanied by Orquesta Sinfónica Esperanza Azteca Ciudad Juárez Juvenil, which will take place on Friday, May 6th, 2016 at the Chamizal National Memorial Auditorium (800 S. San Marcial St.., El Paso, Texas 79901) and Saturday, May 7th, 2016 at the Rio Grande Theatre (211 N. Main Street, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001).
"Dramas & Caballeros"
It is an electrifying and captivating musical fusion in which "Madame Ur y sus hombres" and Orquesta Sinfónica Esperanza Azteca Ciudad Juárez Juvenil combine their talent to present this eloquent proposal: A show that creates a theatrical scene with a cabaret feeling, while relating the story of a woman who undertakes a dark and metaphorical journey, through different emotions conveyed by unique sounds and images.
“Madame Ur y sus hombres”
They are an independent musical alignment of the current music scene of Tijuana, Baja California. They combine blues, jazz, pop and rock, with a touch of musical revue and cabaret. Azzul Monraz, the lead singer, becomes its alter ego (“Madame Ur”), and each one of its members, Joel Castillo and Toto Zuniga (“sus hombres”), evoke a theatrical energy that surrounds the audience in a unique atmosphere that represents alternative music in Mexico.
Since 2015 “Madame Ur y sus hombres” have been part of "El Lugar del Nopal" Laboratorio Creativo Escénico Musical del Foro Cultural en Tijuana, Baja California. They participated in the album "The Chamana", a tribute to Chavela Vargas, with the piece "Mundo Raro" by Jose Alfredo Jimenez; they have been invited to participate with the Orquesta de Baja California, playing original songs under the direction of maestro Eduardo Garcia Barrios; they appear in the documentary “Rebel Music Mexico: Borderline” available on Netflix; their songs, "Song for me" and "Venada" are included in the rotation of the following radio stations: Fusión 102.5 FM by Instituto Mexicano de la Radio (IMER), Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC), Radio 1630 AM and San Diego Jazz 88.3 FM (California, USA). They released the musical composition "El Niño Corre" for “ADN”, a contemporary dance play by Mexican choreographer Ebert Ortiz; participated in the digital series "El Porvenir" (2nd season) with the theme "Grandiosa"; were part of the emergent artists who represented the art and culture of Tijuana, Baja California in the Octava Fiesta del Libro y la Cultura en Medellín, in Medellin, Colombia (2014); and Azzul Monraz collaborated with Nortec (Bostich and Fussible) in the soundtrack of "Luzia," Cirque du Soleil’s new production, which will be released in Montreal on April 21, 2016. They also have two CDs: Animal Man (2011) and EP Man & Pearl Necklaces (2008).
Orquesta Sinfónica Esperanza Azteca Ciudad Juárez
Created through the Esperanza Azteca project, the symphony orchestra and chorus of the same name are integrated by approximately 140 children and teenagers, ages 5 to 17, from Ciudad Juárez. Under the direction of Guillermo Quezada Novela, the orchestra debuted in June 2011, delivering an outstanding performance that has lead them to participate in various national and international cultural forums that include the International Festival of Chihuahua and performances in Los Angeles and San Diego, California, El Paso, Texas and Las Cruces, New 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.
Guillermo Quezada Novela
Originally from Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Quezada graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) with a bachelor degree in Music Education and a master degree in Viola Performance. He has held various positions in several orchestras in the region: 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 Sympony 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.
In addition to leading the Orchestra and Chorus Esperanza Azteca of Ciudad Juarez, Mr. Quezada currently leads the Youth Symphony Orchestra of the UACJ, Bilbao’s Symphony Orchestra and the Camerata, both of Ciudad Juarez.
Past performances “Madame Ur y sus hombres” and Orquesta Sinfónica Esperanza Azteca Ciudad Juárez are available through the following links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isyIVZOBbSA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRlqoEVX6D4, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHO3kFBZvZU
The Consulate General of Mexico, Centro Cultural Mexicano Paso del Norte, the Chamizal National Memorial and the City of Las Cruces, N.M. will greatly appreciate the media’s support and distribution of this information along with the attached image.
For more information please contact: Press Attache of the Consulate General of Mexico / (915) 532-5551 ext.: 259 o prensaepa@sre.gob.mx, Cultural Affairs Department / (915) 544-6489 ext.: 258, http://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/elpaso