Coro Latinoamericano sings a south-of-the-border Christmas
by Mark Kanny – Tribune Review Classical Music Critic
Tribune Review– December 20, 2002
The sounds of Christmas with a Latin beat will fill the auditorium of the Frick Fine Arts Building in Oakland on Saturday. Coro Latinoamericano's annual holiday concert, "Feliz Navidad, Pittsburgh" brings the rhythms, sounds and intonations of countries south of the border to Pittsburgh.
Music director Sharon Rotuna, who hails from Ambridge and whose ethnic heritage is German, Polish and Italian, says the Latin Christmas music features "very infectious rhythms. They are very inspiring pieces: The lively ones are very rejoicing, and the slower ones are soothing and peaceful." Carols from Colombia, "Vamos Pastoritos" (Hurry Shepherds), and Chile, "Vamos a Belén" (Hurry to Bethlehem), are "traditional upbeat carols that kind of dance," Rotuna says. Latin percussion accompaniment will include maracas, congas and güiros.
The concert will be augmented this year by the first presentation of its Corola Awards for contributions to "cultural enrichment and well-being of the western Pennsylvania community."
Chorus president Ernesto Contenti says, "We feel, as a cultural organization, it would be a good initiative to recognize the lavor and everything these people have done for our culture and the community at-large."Coro Latinoamericano was formed five years ago, in part for the pleasure of singing music of Latin heritage and also to promote understanding throughout the Western hemisphere. Most of its members were born in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Together, they perform at concerts, ethnic festival and educational forums.
Contenti works in marketing in Pittsburgh as a product developer. But in his native Argentina, the tenor was a member of The Islanders, whose six musicians doubled as singers and instrumentalists and recorded for RCA Victor and appeared on television. Although initially reluctant to join the chorus because of the time it should require, he says he's happy he made the commitment.
The Corola honorees were chosen by the chorus's executive committee. They are:
Alan Boal. Born in Freedom, PA., of Spanish heritage, he was a news broadcaster and commentator on Pittsburgh radio and television stations for 50 years. He will serve as emcee for "Feliz Navidad, Pittsburgh."
María de los Ángeles. Born and raised in Mexico City, she taught Spanish for 30 years at what is now Seton Hill University, Greensburgh, and also for one year at the University of Nanjing, China.
Joen Vásquez. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, he is assistant principal violist of the Pittsburgh's & Music Society Passamaneck Award.
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Coro Latinoamericano-Pittsburgh to be First Multi-national Folk Choir from United States to Perform at Cantapueblo Choral Music Festival Post-Gazette – November 2 , 2001 -Choir prepares for trip to Quito, Ecuador, Nov. 13-19, 2001Artistic -Director and Conductor Sharon Rotuna, Ambridge, to lead choirGroup to join other choirs to perform Misa Criolla conducted by renowned composer -Ariel Ramírez Coro Latinoamericano Pittsburgh (Latin American Choir of Pittsburgh) is headed to Quito, Ecuador, Nov. 13 through 19, as the first multi-national folk choir from the United States to participate in Cantapueblo, an annual choral music festival featuring performances from choirs from around the world. Plans call for local filmmakers to join Coro Latinoamericano to document event, which unites the Americas in culture, the musical arts and global good will. Contributing to a "one world voice," Coro Latinoamericano will join choirs from other countries in singing La Misa Criolla (High Mass) composed and conducted by Ariel Ramírez of Argentina. Ramírez is the most highly renowned modern-day composer of Latin American folk music. Coro Latinoamericano will perform in Quito and neighboring towns including Otavalo, Ibarra and Cuenca, Ecuador, in the Andes Mountains. In anticipation of the trip, Coro members recently performed at Leisure Acres Llamas farm, New Bethlehem, PA, where they donned colorful ponchos, played instruments from the Andes and sang folk favorites atop the "altiplanos" of central Pennsylvania. They also enlivened activities at the annual llama back-packing and hiking trail event hosted by Sonja and Chuck Leach, Leisure Acres Llamas farm, new Bethlehem, PA, 814-275-2400, lamas@llamalove.com, http://wwwllamalove.com Coro Latinoamericano holds spring and holiday concerts in Pittsburgh and performs at a wide range of events including ethnic festivals and educational forums. Plans call for coro to take its music to schools and student groups in the coming year. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Coro Latinoamericano (Latin American Choir) is a singing group of about 20 men and women committed to "uniting the Americas" through a closer understanding of Latin American music and culture. Members represent various countries of North, Central and South American and the Caribbean. During the five-day event, Coro Latinoamericano will perform songs from Latin American countries, along with two U.S. selections; an African-American spiritual and a tribute to Pittsburgh-born composer Stephen Foster. |
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| • Alma Llanera – Venezuela • Noches Larenses – Venezuela • Canción con Todos – Argentina • Luna de Xelajú – Guatemala • Cantemos Bailemos – Perú |
• Keep Your Lamps – USA • Apamuy Shungo – Ecuador • Tribute to Stephen Foster – USA • El Humauaqueño – Argentina |
Leading coro Latinoamericano is song is Sharon Rotuna, Ambridge, PA, artistic director and conductor for the Cantapueblo performance, Coro Latinoamericano. Rotuna is also an assistant conductor, Bach Choir of Pittsburgh; conductor, Westminster College Women's Choir, New Wilmington, PA; and music teacher, Aquinas Academy, Wildwood, PA.Cantapueblo photos, more...
Festival of Llamas photos, more...
Coro Latinoamericano Delights Crowd
Panorama
Volume 10, Number 69, June 1998
On Saturday, May 16, a capacity audience at the Frick Fine Arts Building applauded and roared in reaction to series of musical performances in Spanish and Portuguese.
The Coro Latinoamericano, under the direction of Daniel Marchán, presented a selection of typical music from various Latin American nations, featuring solos, a cappella voices, and an emphasis on the folk elements that make Latin music so distinctive and moving.
The crowd reacted with outspoken enthusiasm, thundering applause and loud cries of recognition and delight during the evening.
Daniel Marchán, who is returning to Venezuela, is an international classic guitarist and choir director. He earned a Master of Music Degree in Guitar Performance at Duquesne University and has been active in music direction with a number of Pitts burgh churches of various denominations.
The choir was composed of more than 35 Pittsburghers, many of South and Central America origin.
The concert was enlivened by performances by Musuhallpa (Andean music), the Venezuelan Ensemble (violin, guitar, cuatro, cello and flute), and soloists; William Gregory, Kenia, Suzie Ackerman, who also served as the Coro's Assistant Director, and Miguel Sagué, accompanied by his son, Miguel Sagué III, an accomplished percussionist.
The evening was sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Center for Latin American Studies and the Pittsburgh Baptist Church.
