Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine Announces Four November Performances

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Community members are invited to enjoy four concerts in November sponsored by Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine. Performances will be on Mondays from 12:10 to 1 p.m.

The concerts on Nov. 7 and 14 are part of the Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine Fuad Mansour Windows on the World music and dance series. The schedule is:

Nov. 7: A Touch of Spain, a six-member group of musicians and dancers devoted to the art of flamenco, will perform in Barbara Woodward Lips Atrium, subway level, Rochester Methodist Hospital, Charlton Building, 10 Third Ave. NW. Guitarist Michael Hauser, known as the father of flamenco in the Midwest, leads the group. Hauser studied with classical guitarist Jesus Silva and Spanish flamenco artists such as Luis Maravilla. Hauser is a founder of the Minneapolis-based flamenco dance company, Zorongo Flamenco, where he also served as musical director and first guitarist. Other members of A Touch of Spain include Tony Hauser on guitar, Chuck Armstrong on saxophone and flute, and Tommy Dades on bass. Zorongo Flamenco dancers Laura Horn and "La Catalina" join A Touch of Spain for this performance.

Nov. 14: Speaking in Tongues, a four-member musical ensemble representing four countries and cultures, will perform a concert in Barbara Woodward Lips Atrium. The group's collective sound has been described as "a West African drum ensemble driving along under the butterfly wings of an Asian melody, the romance of Brazilian jazz orchestrated with Middle Eastern drums, and folk music from a new world." Ensemble members are composer and ethnomusicologist Sowah Mensah on drums, Brian Roessler on bass, Marc Anderson on percussion, and Gao Hong on the pipa. The group has performed throughout the world.

The concerts on Nov. 21 and 28 are part of the Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Program.

Nov. 21: American soprano Carla Thelen Hanson will sing opera classics, accompanied by classical concert pianist Ainhoa Urkijo, in Barbara Woodward Lips Atrium. Hanson's performances have been praised by critics in The New York Times and The New Yorker. She has played Puccini's "Tosca," Verdi's "Aida" and Strauss' "Salome." Urkijo, a native of Spain, has performed throughout Europe and the U.S. She teaches and has accompanied singers such as Christopher Roberston, Maria Luisa Tomes, and Tamara Mathews. She is pursuing a doctoral degree in Musical Arts in Collaborative Piano at the University of Minnesota.

Nov. 28: The Honors Choirs of Southeastern Minnesota will perform in Hage Atrium, subway level, Siebens Medical Education Building, 100 Second Ave. SW. The Honors Choirs is a nonprofit organization of four auditioned youth choirs for singers in grades three through 12. Honors Choirs is in its 20th season. Its mission is to promote the highest standard of excellence in the preparation and performance of choral music, while seeking to provide artistic challenge and growth opportunities for youth throughout the region and enjoyment for the community at large. This year, the choirs include more than 200 singers from 27 communities and 58 schools throughout southeastern Minnesota.

Sponsored by the Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine, the Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Program is coordinated by Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester. The series is generously funded by Rosemary Willson in memory of her late husband, Meredith Willson, who wrote the Broadway musical "The Music Man." The gift is made in gratitude for the couple's care at Mayo Clinic. The Fuad Mansour Windows on the World music and dance series is offered as part of the annual Fuad Mansour Program which celebrates the life of Mansour, a Mayo employee who made major contributions to both Mayo Clinic and the Rochester community. He died Jan. 26, 1997. The program's purpose is to promote peace, cultural diversity, youth-related education and mentorship activities. The annual series is also sponsored by Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine and funded through gifts from Mansour's friends and family.

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