Weslaco to host performances

WESLACO — Respected as one of the best in the Rio Grande Valley, the award-winning Guitarras del Valle Ensembles is set to perform on Wednesday at the Eugene A. Braught Theater.

The performance is part of Festival de Guitarra, which is sponsored by the Friends of the Weslaco Public Library and the city.
Along with the ensemble, highly acclaimed professional guitarist Matt Hinsley will appear in the concert on July 10 with both scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.

Tickets for both shows are $7 on Wednesday and $10 for Friday.

Directed by Educardo Miranda, Guitarras del Valle performs classical guitar music ranging from traditional to Spanish. The performance will also include a number of solo acts.

Miranda said Wednesday's performance will range from folk, children's music, patriotic and a variety of Mexican music.
"There's something for everybody," Miranda said.

Having performed there a number of times, Miranda said he and the group always look forward to performing at the Weslaco theater.

"That's one of the highlights of the year," said guitar player Olivia Aguilar. "They always have great audiences, really packed. The theater is really beautiful." 

 
In the past, the group has performed ensembles during the summer months and the Christmas season.

Guitarras del Valle has two separate groups of elementary and high school students, with some of the young musicians having been with the program for as long as five years. Guitarras del Valle recently had five of their group members compete at the UTPA guitar festival and all five placed in the top five, Miranda said.

Also for the past five years, the group has placed first at the annual Guitar Ensemble Festival in Brownsville.  

 
"They're young, but they're good," Miranda said. "It's not a rock concert, but you can hear everything."

Hinsley is better known for his virtuoso guitar playing. Hinsley tours around the United States and has received numerous performance-based awards, according to a press release.