News

Each week on World Music (Saturday nights from 8-10 on KSTX 89.1 FM), I take a look at celebrations happening around the world. This week, chasing the "naked man" in Japan!

KONOMIYA HADAKA MATSURI FESTIVAL

The Alamo Colleges have received a multimillion dollar grant from the Texas Workforce Commission to train 1,000 rackers. The Rackspace employees will receive special training for cloud computing from the Alamo Colleges.

The $2.5 million awarded to the school from the Workforce Commission's Skills Development Fund will create a tailored program called the Cloud Academy.

South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce board member Richard Cardenas has announced his bid for City Council District 5.

The San Antonio native officially announced his bid for the seat Thursday at the Guadalupe Arts Cultural Center on the city’s near West Side. Closing his remarks before supporters, Cardenas said, “Let’s revive district 5,” which will be his main battle cry.

I've seen contestants in piano competitions play some large and impressive works when trying to stand out from their other competitors. Big and difficult works like Liszt's "b minor sonata" or Ravel's "Gaspard de la Nuit" are sure to get the judges attention, but there is also the fear of losing the audience.

It is not easy programming your first set at a competition. This week on The Piano, we visit more recordings from last October's San Antonio International Piano Competition.There are only two big and challenging works on the program.

The Alamo gift shop reopened after a month of renovations to customers looking to scoop up historical keep-sakes of the Texas revolution.

“I grabbed a postcard, made sure it said Alamo on it, slapped it down, and wanted to be that first customer,” said Sue Wigston, who is in town from Ontario, Canada.

“We got caught up in the gift shop instead so now we're going to go back track and learn about the history of the Alamo,” she said.

Texas education funding is ruled unconstitutional, and Attorney General Greg Abbott is expected to appeal the case to the Texas Supreme Court. There are opposing views in the legislature on whether to immediately act to address the issue, or wait until the court forces it. Gov. Perry is causing a stir with his radio ads in California that try to lure companies to the Lone Star State, and one columnist from San Francisco says this is generating some interesting conversation.

YOSA and CCSA collaborate for BrahmsFest

Monday night, February 11, two outstanding youth groups combine on the stage of Trinity University's Laurie Auditorium to celebrate the music of Johannes Brahms. The official Brahms Festival event will feature new orchestrations and old favorites.

Marguerite McCormick and Troy Peters will conduct the Children's Chorus of San Antonio and the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio Philharmonic in "Brahms ReImagined." 

As part of the Bexar County Family Justice Center's annual fundraiser, the Woodlawn Theater is donating all proceeds from it's latest show, Neil Simon's "Chapter 2," to help victims of domestic violence.

The Woodlawn presents top shows for a variety of audiences, but the owners also have a vision of being a community resource for non-profit  organizations.