FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2003
CONTACT: Luis Mercado, Palo Alto College Public Affairs
210.921.5077
Palo Alto College to Host Residency on Conjunto Music Education
The Conjunto Music Program in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts/Speech Communication at Palo Alto College will host acclaimed button accordion virtuoso and Conjunto Music Hall of Fame member, Oscar Hernandez, in a one-week residency, Dec. 1-6, 2003.
The Conjunto Music Program at Palo Alto College, under the direction of Juan Tejeda, is the first of its kind at the college/university level in the nation. The program offers private instruction in Button Accordion and Bajo Sexto, a course in Beginning Conjunto Ensemble, and a Continuing Education course in Button Accordion.
Conjunto Palo Alto, the resident student group created from the Beginning Conjunto Ensemble course, currently performs at college and community events. During the residency, Hernandez will work with students of the accordion and bajo sexto, and with students in the Beginning Conjunto Ensemble and Conjunto Palo Alto. He will also assist with the development of a new standardized teaching methodology for the button accordion and bajo sexto incorporating music theory and practice, and a new conjunto music recording initiative at the college.
Dr. Manuel Pena, a noted authority on Tejano and conjunto music, will
also present at the conference. Pena has a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology and folklore from the University of Texas at Austin. His published works include "The Texas-Mexican Conjunto: History of a Working Class Music," "The Mexican American Orquesta," and "Música Tejana."
Other conjunto maestros will include: Joel Guzman, Eva Ybarra, Jesus "Chucho" Perales, Bene Layton, Santiago Jimenez Jr., Rosendo "Sandy" Sanchez, and Bene Medina.
On Saturday, Dec. 6, the Palo Alto College Conjunto Music Program will host a mini-conference, "Conjunto: Teaching the Tradicion/A First Meeting of Maestros and Administrators of Programs and Organizations Working in the Field of Conjunto Music Education in the State of Texas." The event is scheduled from 12 noon to 2:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center bandhall. Conjunto music teachers and representatives from twelve statewide organizations will gather for a meeting. Attendees will exchange information about the history and nature of their respective programs, and will dialogue on the future of these programs and explore what needs to be done for progress and success of these programs.
After the conference, a recital by students in the Conjunto Music Program at Palo Alto College will follow. Students of conjunto music are especially encouraged to attend. The event is free and open to the public.
"These are exciting times in the history of conjunto music," said Tejeda. "Never before have there been so many organizations and programs that are teaching conjunto, button accordion and bajo sexto, as well as its history and socio-cultural relevance. The question is: why? Is it because this unique expression of the Chicano people is in danger? This ‘conjunto summit,’ as some are calling it, should prove to be a very interesting and important network-in-the-making. A network where resources, teachers, teaching methodologies, recording opportunities, and other information relevant to the preservation, promotion, and teaching of conjunto music can be shared," said Tejeda.
Palo Alto College is a fully accredited community college located on the Southside, and awards associate degrees, short-term certificates and offers non-credit continuing education classes. The college is recognized nationally for its high transfer rate. The campus is located at 1400 W. Villaret Blvd. at I-410 South and
Texas Hwy. 16.