FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RELEASE DATE: March 14, 2014
CONTACT: Rosemarie Bustamante, (562) 908-3492

Whittier – Rio Hondo College’s Division of Arts and Cultural Programs presents project ERANOS in concert at the Wray Theater at Rio Hondo College. The concert, directed by Ann Gresham with accompaniment by pianist Kyounghee Kim, will take place on Saturday, March 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Wray Theater. The concert features the music of American composers ranging from Charles Ives and Aaron Copland to Billy Joel, performed by advanced students in the Rio Hondo Music Department.

According to Ms. Gresham, “American Spring” is the first in a series of concerts focused on American music. From blue skies and Kansas wheat fields to a starry, starry night, project ERANOS winds its way through a landscape of American opera and art song, with lyrics written by some of the greats of American literature and music by the most distinctive composers of the 20th century. Says Gresham: “It is Americana that seems as fresh as a county breeze and as familiar as your own left shoe.”

“American Spring” is a perfect evening for fans of American music of all kinds, from classical and opera to pop. Free to the public, it is a perfect evening for families, students, and music lovers of all kinds.

Established in 2009, project Eranos combines musical styles, eras and idioms with live instruments and inspired singing in one fluid, continuous presentation of classical, jazz, folk, musical theatre, opera, rock and world music. It is made up of community college students, like-minded young artists offering ideas, outreach and innovation that come together in exciting and unexpected ways.

Rio Hondo College soprano Marina Macias and tenor Cameron Johnson have just been accepted into Cal State University, Fullerton (CSUF) Music Department as voice majors. Both have sung leading roles with “Songscapes,” the highly successful Rio Hondo College touring outreach program, and are students of voice instructor Ann Gresham.

They will be joining another talented member of the “Songscapes” tour, baritone Jose Maldonado, who graduated from Rio Hondo College with honors and transferred to CSUF last fall of 2013. Jose has already distinguished himself at CSUF and will be singing the leading role of “Falke” in a full production of Strauss’s operetta, “Die Fledermaus” this coming April. He will also be flying to San Antonio, Texas, in May, to participate as a national finalist in Classical Singer Magazine’s “Auditions +” Competition. Jose was recently awarded an Honorable Mention in the Rio Hondo Symphony Young Artist Scholarship Competition in February of 2014.

All will be featured artists in the award-winning vocal ensemble, project ERANOS.

For more information, visit www.riohondo.edu/arts/book_tour.html and www.larkgalleryonline.com/colors_of_life_music.php?s=12.