TCU Latin American Arts Festival.

What began as a classical music festival on the campus in 1998 becomes a community-wide celebration of Hispanic heritage this year. The TCU Latin American Arts Festival begins April 5 with Fort Worth Symphony concerts all weekend at Bass Hall and concludes April 13 with an outdoor fiesta on the lawn outside the TCU Brown- Lupton Student Center.

The days between are filled with events that celebrate the talent and culture of Mexico, the countries of South America, and Spain. Featured guests scheduled to attend include:

Daniel Binelli

The Argentinian bandoneonist and composer has made a long career of interpreting the rhythms of the tango for international audiences. The late tango composer Astor Piazzola chose Binelli to join his touring sextet in the late 1980s; now he travels the world interpreting Piazzola’s work as a soloist with symphonic and chamber orchestras.

Opus Cuatro

An important vocal group in their native Argentina, Opus Cuatro has become well-known in Europe, Asia and the rest of Latin America. Their repertoire concentrates on the performance of popular music and sounds rooted in the folk traditions of Latin America.

Playwright Jose Rivera

Born in Puerto Rico and now based in Los Angeles, Rivera is regarded as an important voice in contemporary drama. His plays include Sueno, the Obie Award-winning Marisol, References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, Cloud Tectonics, The House of Ramon Iglesia, Each Day Dies with Sleep and many more.

Composer Manuel Esperon

Manuel Esperon wrote the scores for more than 600 films during the heyday of Mexican cinema. He collaborated with the most noted directors of the era, including Luis Bunuel, Chano Urueta, Ismael Rodriguez, Rene Cardona and Fernando de Fuentes and also worked on music for American films at both MGM and Walt Disney Studios. Described as a “living legend,” the 90-year-old Esperon is credited with encouraging the international appeal of mariachi music… his traditional, romantic melodies embody the culture of Old Mexico.

Dance troupes from Latin America

Five international ballet and modern dance companies are scheduled to perform at the Festival … “Compania Sunny Savoy” from Puebla, Mexico, “Momentum” from Guatamala, “Intermitente” from Paraguay, “El Porton” from Argentina and “Ballet Nacional” from Peru.

German Gutierrez

Colombian-born German Gutierrez is TCU’s director of orchestral studies in the School of Music and is the founder and driving force behind the Latin American Arts Festival. He also serves as music director of the Youth Orchestra of Greater Fort Worth, occasionally conducts the Dallas symphony’s annual Hispanic Festival Concert, and has served as guest conductor for the Fort Worth Symphony and its Concerts in the Garden summer series.

This year, for the first time, TCU is collaborating on special events for children in “Fort Worth After School,” an enrichment program jointly sponsored by Fort Worth ISD and the City of Fort Worth. There will be a youth art show, a special concert sponsored by Rhythm Band with instruments donated to the children, and dance troupe performances at Worth Heights, DeZavala, Rufino Mendoza and W.J.Turner Elementary Schools and at Rosemont Middle School.

For a complete listing of events, check the calendar listings at http://www.latinarts.tcu.edu