“Northern Lights” by Louis Vega Treviño

“Northern Lights” by Louis Vega Treviño

Musical Bridges’ Art Gallery hosted its third opening of the season on Saturday, June 18, 2016. The opening celebrated “Northern Lights,” by artist Louis Vega Treviño. A constant flow of over 60 guests moved throughout the gallery; enjoying art, wine, hors d’oeuvres, and live jazz by Aaron Prado and Zlatan Redzic. Musical Bridges’ would like to give a special thanks to MBAW Gallerist Julya Jara for all of her hard work coordinating the opening. The exhibit at the Musical Bridges’ Art Gallery will be available for viewing through August 12th. To schedule a visit, please call (210)...

Fundraising Efforts for San Antonio’s Sister City of Kumamoto, Japan Kicked-Off During City Council

Fundraising Efforts for San Antonio’s Sister City of Kumamoto, Japan Kicked-Off During City Council

From City of San Antonio Economic Development Department, May 12, 2016 During City Council today, 17 community partners successfully kicked-off fundraising efforts to help San Antonio’s sister city of Kumamoto, Japan. Kumamoto was recently hit by multiple devastating earthquakes that led to incredible infrastructure damage and the loss of 49 lives with thousands injured. This natural disaster led to the community coming together to raise funds to help San Antonio’s sister city in its time of need. “It is heartbreaking what happened to Kumamoto,” said Mayor Ivy R. Taylor. “But the warm and passionate response from many of our community...

Kids to Concerts: India

Kids to Concerts: India

Musical Bridges Around the World is proud to report its ninth successful segment of Kids to Concerts during the 18th season! This segment brought us to Huebner Elementary school on April 26, 2016. Guest artists included: pianist Anil Srinivasan and Carnatic vocalist Sikkil “Charan” Gurucharan. MBAW’s interactive and exciting program incorporated TEKS and STEM curriculum-teaching the culture and geography of India through music. About 1,000 children learned about rythm & sound, history, and ethnic instruments during the 40 minute program. They were singing and swaying the whole time! MBAW would like to thank the Texas...

Kids to Concerts: Japan

Kids to Concerts: Japan

Musical Bridges Around the World is proud to report its eighth successful segment of Kids to Concerts during the 18th season! This segment brought us to five more San Antonio Elementary schools on April 11-12, 2016: Woodstone, Andrew Briscoe, Collins Garden, Neal and Eleanor Kolitz Hebrew Language Academy. Guest artists included: Japanese Koto and Shamisen player Sumie Kaneko, who has been recognized as a pioneer of uniquely chromatic instrumentation; Kaoru Watanabe, a New York based composer and musician who specializes in the Japanese shinobue flutes and taiko drums; and Taiko artist Kenny Endo. The trio are deeply rooted in Japanese...

MBAW’s Journey to Japan

MBAW’s Journey to Japan

In the spirit of San Antonio’s 300th birthday in 2018, Musical Bridges’ Artistic Director Anya Grokhovski traveled all the way to Japan in search for guest artists.  The purpose for the two week trip was to get aquainted with Japanese culture and score some new and fabulous talent for the International Music Festival in 2018. The centerpiece of the trip was Anya’s meeting with city officials of Kumamoto – sister city of San Antonio to discuss possible artistic collaborations. Anya met with Japanese musicians everywhere she went and for the grand finale of her trip spent an unforgettable five hours in Tokyo’s...

Kids to Concerts: Russia & Ukraine

Kids to Concerts: Russia & Ukraine

Musical Bridges Around the World is proud to report its seventh successful segment of Kids to Concerts during the 18th season at no charge to the schools visited! On March 23-24, 2016 the Flying Balalaika Brothers visited six San Antonio Elementary schools: Larkspur, Kriewald Road, Regency Place, Young Men’s Leadership Academy, Bowden and Riverside Park. MBAW’s interactive and exciting program incorporated TEKS and STEM curriculum-teaching the culture and geography of Russia & Ukraine through music.  About 5,000 children learned about rhythm & sound, dance, history, ethnic instruments and Russian language during the 40 minute...

Flying Balalaika Brothers Visit Alicia Trevino López One-Stop Center

Flying Balalaika Brothers Visit Alicia Trevino López One-Stop Center

Musical Bridges Around the World provided another free 40 minute concert of its retirement community outreach program, Golden Age to the Alicia Trevino López Senior One-Stop Center on March 24, 2016. Russian Folk Group the Flying Balalaika Brothers brought their uplifting performance to the center and the residents were invigorated! Before the first song was over, the space in front of the musicians was filled with residents dancing along with the music. It didn’t stop there…the space was filled with dancers during the entire 40 minute performance. Many residents asked for MBAW’s contact information to put themselves on the wait list...

MBAW Brings Russian Culture to Haven for Hope

MBAW Brings Russian Culture to Haven for Hope

Musical Bridges Around the World partnered with Haven for Hope on March 23, 2016, providing a free one hour concert for their community. Russian Folk Group the Flying Balalaika Brothers brought their uplifting performance to the dining hall during dinner hour. Hundreds of people were present for the performance and sang along with many of the melodies played by the musicians. Haven for Hope’s mission is to offer a place of hope and new beginnings. They do this by providing, coordinating and delivering an efficient system of care for people experiencing homelessness in Bear County. We thank them for inviting us to their facility to spread...

Kids to Concerts Russia: Barynya

Kids to Concerts Russia: Barynya

Musical Bridges Around the World is proud to report another successful segment of Kids to Concerts during the 18th season at no charge to the schools visited! On February 18-19, 2016 Barynya visited five San Antonio Elementary schools: Bulverde Creek, Herff, Riverside Park, Northern Hills and Raba. MBAW’s interactive and exciting program incorporated TEKS and STEM curriculum-teaching the culture and geography of Russia & Ukraine through music and dance.About 4,000 children learned about rhythm & sound, dance, history, ethnic instruments, traditional clothing and Russian language during the 40 minute program. Each program...

Birds of a Feather

Birds of a Feather

Every January I attend the Chamber Music America Conference in New York. This year the conference was scheduled on the same weekend as Rob’s birthday. I did not feel like leaving Rob all alone and lonely on his special day and invited him to join me in New York. Rob did not feel like going to New York in January and respectfully declined my kind invitation. Being the exemplary wife I am…I offered to go anywhere his heart desired for his birthday. After going back and forth between Las Vegas, Bonaire, Cozumel and other places he decided that he would like to go on a photographic trip to the Bosque National Wild Life Refuge to take pictures...

Changing the World Through Generosity

Changing the World Through Generosity

December is a special time of the year when generosity blooms to its fullest. What makes us so special? Why do we give? Do we give because we care so much about others, or does it just feel good to give? I believe it is a mixture of both. Studies show that giving to others achieves a sense of self-determination and, ultimately, greater happiness. Read Full...

Immigrants contribute to U.S. — and San Antonio

Immigrants contribute to U.S. — and San Antonio

I have been reading lately about the expected 10,000 Syrian refugees, whom President Barack Obama has agreed to resettle in the United States as millions of Syrian women, children and men have fled their war-torn country ever since the uprising began against President Bashar Assad’s government. I am also aware of stories in the media about presidential candidates and governors who aren’t exactly, shall we say, immigrant-friendly. In any case, it’s possible that many Syrians, who have had to uproot their lives in search of safety and asylum, could eventually settle in San Antonio or other Texas cities. As a Russian immigrant to the...

Encuentro de Culturas 2015

Encuentro de Culturas 2015

On March 11, 2015, Musical Bridges Around the World (MBAW) traveled to Puerto Rico for Encuentro de Culturas 2015. The idea to create the festival was spearheaded by native Puerto Rican and MBAW Board Member, Dr. Awilda Ramos. About a year ago, Dr. Ramos sat down with Artistic Director, Dr. Anya Grokhovski with a dream of creating a cultural exchange festival with Puerto Rico and together, they made it a reality. Led by Dr. Ramos and Dr. Grokhovski, MBAW’s support team consisted of staff members Executive Assistant Diana Tatu and Vanessa Sanchez along with contractors James Sanders and Clemence Le Saux. Dr. Grokhovski created a spectacular...

Unfolding Dimensions – About Sandy Whitby & Lauren Browning

Unfolding Dimensions – About Sandy Whitby & Lauren Browning

My work is an attempt to communicate how I observe, think and feel through my personal perception of beauty. I’m fascinated by the relationships between lines and surfaces, the intersections of seemingly disparate forms, and the way light transforms them all. The individual shapes, materials and textures used in my abstract sculptures should be familiar to the viewer, yet I’ve arranged them in ways that are uniquely my own. A common theme in my work is the dueling effects of fluidity and points of tension — a combination that I believe produces the greatest interest and strongest overall sense of movement in abstract forms. Because I...

“Unfolding Dimensions” by Sandy Whitby & Lauren Browning

“Unfolding Dimensions” by Sandy Whitby & Lauren Browning

Musical Bridges’ Art Gallery hosted its second opening of the 17th season on Friday, February 13th.  The opening celebrated “Unfolding Dimensions,” the first combined exhibit of artists Sandy Whitby and Lauren Browning. A constant flow of over 150 guests moved throughout the gallery-enjoying art, wine, hors d’oeuvres, and live jazz by George and Aaron Prado. Sandy and Lauren’s work attracted many first time visitors to the MBAW gallery; one guest said that it was the best art opening she’s attended in over 20 years. MBAW Board Member Paul Martin was among the first to buy a piece from the opening — he was drawn to...