A short International Music Festival will fill the next two weekends here in San Antonio. The festival is put on by San Antonio-based Musical Bridges Around the World, which Director Anya Grokhovski says has a pretty high-minded objective.
"Uniting people through culturally diverse programming."
To do so, they're putting on five concerts over five days on two weekends. And yes, it is diverse.
"We're starting on Feb. 12 at Laurie Auditorium with a program titled Jazz Invocation, with the fabulous Jazz Artists Charles Lloyd and Bill Frisell."
Then on Saturday they switch gears, going to the Empire Theatre for something called Persian Impressions.
"The artists are Kayhan Kalhor from Iran, Sandeep Das from India, Michael Block from Boston. It's going to be a fusion concert."
On Saturday, Feb. 20, it all moves to the Carver Cultural Center.
"It's a Valentine's concert --the Artist, Avant Ballet from Dallas. And trio of Violin, Piano, Clarinet."
Then on Sunday, Feb 21, it moves to the Incarnate Word Chapel for Singing Strings.
"The guest artists are Russian Cellist Boris Andrianov, Russian Guitarist Dmitry Illarianov, and Puerto Rican Soprano Carelle Flores."
The last event moves to the McAllister Auditorium at San Antonio College.
"The guest artists are dancing artists from New York Barynya. Flying Balalaika Brothers from Austin. Duo Aleyanya on piano."
While the lineup is highly different from show-to-show, the common theme is a human one.
"We believe that music is the most beautiful and shortest route to peoples' hearts. Through music people find common ground."
Of note: Every concert is free.
For more on the International Music Festival, go here.
For more on Musical Bridges Around the World go here.
