Troubadours

The ensemble Pilar de Coffeen will present a concert of “trova” (troubadour style) music Saturday, September 27, 7 p.m. at the Gonzalez Gallo Cultural Center, Avenida Gonzalez Gallo 1500 in Chapala.

The group of five specializes in this style, a distinctive musical variation popular in Latin America. It, like folk singing north of the border, touches on themes of social justice, freedom and politics.

Members of the group are flutist Eliza Nathali Garcia Coffeen, guitarists Mario Moreno and Edgar, percussionist Manuel Gallardo and Pilar Coffeen, who sings and plays the guitar. The group has a following around Jalisco that sees the ensemble as both entertaining and inspiring.

Singer and guitarist Pilar Coffeen will lead the ensemble named for her in a concert of “trova” (troubador) music September 27 at the Gonzalez Gallo Cultural Center.

MAS tickets

Season tickets (2008-2009) for the Music Appreciation Society (MAS) will be on sale through September 25, 10 a.m. to noon at the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Tickets, Etc. booth.

The program for the season includes seven concerts. They are the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) on November 11; Three tenors and a soprano sing operatic arias on December 2; Pianists Vlada Vassilieva and Anatoly Zatin present a program of music for two pianos on January 13; Guitar Duo Medina-Gracian on Feburary 3; Boris and Ina Zarankin with four-hand piano compositions on February 17; the New Pacific Trio with piano, cello and violin on March 11 and the A Capella Youth Choir on April 7.

Great seats are still available and the prices are the same as they were last year at 1,500, 1,200 and 1,000 pesos for the series.

All concerts are held in the Auditorio de la Ribera del Lago in La Floresta, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Opening

Don’t forget that the Lakeside Little Theatre (LLT) opens its 43rd season with “Office Hours” by Norm Foster Saturday, September 27, 7:30 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Thursday and Friday, September 25 and 26 from 10 a.m. to noon at the theater box office. They will be sold each day during the run (through October 5) at the same time, except Sunday, and one hour before curtain.

The full services bar on the Angel Patio opens at 6:30 p.m. Arrive early and chat with friends or make new ones.

LLT president Pat Carroll promises that the road leading to the theater, Allen W. Lloyd Drive, will be finished and opened by that time.

Book Fair

Editor of the Ojo del Lago publication, Alex Grattan, has arranged a book fair for Tuesday, October 7, 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. on the back patio of the Lake Chapala Society. He invites everyone to sample the writing styles of 14 local authors. Each author will have five minutes to tell about his or her book (s). The stories include everything from Ajijic to the world and there’s something for everyone - novels and real-life adventure stories, haiku and crossword puzzles, poetry, health travel and a lot more. Come and listen to the authors, then move to the back lawn where you can meet them all, talk about writing and have a chance to buy their books.

During intermission at the September 14 concert, VIVA president Rosemary Keeling gave out checks to VIVA’s scholarship winners for this term. They are (L-R) violinist Willy Renteria, singer and violinist Emmanuel Medeles, violinist Rafael Contreras and pianist Ivan Morales.

ACA will bring their Great Greens farmers’ market to fill up the gazebo, along with other organic products grown at the ACA farm in Jaltepec. ACA memberships, which provide discounts on organic products at the farm, will be available and receipts are available to those who make cash donations.

Music lessons

Free music classes in recorder, clarinet and music reading are now being offered at the Gonzalez Gallo Cultural Center in Chapala. The classes will be held on Wednesday, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon. They are being taught by an experienced musician from the University of Guadalajara’s School of Music.

For further information contact the Cultural Center at (376) 765-7424. English is spoken.

Artists at the fair

There are still a few (very few) spaces left for artists who want to participate in the upcoming Fall Harvest Fair being held to benefit Asociacion Comunitario Autosuficiencia (ACA) during the third weekend in October. Jose Melendrez is in charge of the space and the artists and crafters for the event. Contact him at (376) 765-3420.

Kick-off

An important date change for Lakeside Little Theatre’s (LLT) Annual Kick-Off Party was necessary because the road to the theater closed off access for several weeks. The new date is Saturday, October 18, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the theater. All members/season ticket holders are invited to attend. Delicious snacks will be served and all who attend will receive two free drink tickets. It’ll be a great time to celebrate!

Double header

Two exhibitions of art will open Sunday, October 4, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Centro Cultural Ajijic located on Ajijic’s principal plaza. Katie Closs will present “Fuente,” with paintings, collage and etching in Sala 1 (main floor) and Ana Romo will present “El Tiempo y La Vida” worked on canvas, wood and glass in Sala 2 (upstairs).

This promises to be a diverse and interesting exhibition.

Studio opening

Local popular artist Efren Gonzalez will open his season Friday, September 26, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., at his gallery upstairs at Plaza Bugambilias. The theme will be “Mexico Paintings” in honor of the patriotic month of September. Gonzalez has come up with some new techniques. Be sure to have a look.

Trio by Demand

Back by popular demand, the dynamic trio of Lynn Martin on keyboard, Susan Miller on vocals and comedy magician Bob Crisafi stirring things up, will be on the boards at La Bodega Restaurant, 16 de Septiembre 124, Thursday, September 25 starting at 7:30 p.m. The cover charge is just 30 pesos.

Please reserve your table early by calling 766-1002.