Don’t Cry for Me Argentina | Musical Evenings at San Fernando Cathedral

Native from San Juan, Argentina, JP Jofre is an award winning bandoneon player and composer. He has been repeatedly highlighted by the New York Times and praised as one of today’s leading artists by Great Performers at Lincoln Center. His music has been recorded by 16 times Grammy winner Paquito D’ Rivera, Orpheus Orchestra and Kathryn Stott. Jofre is a recipient of the National Prize of the Arts grant in Argentina, he has taken his form of contemporary Tango to some of the most important festivals around the world including Celebrity Series of Boston and Umbria Jazz Festival, among others. As soloist he has appeared with the San Antonio Symphony, San Diego Symphony and Argentina’s NSO to name a few. JP has also given lectures at Google Talks, TEDtalks and The Juilliard School. He is currently writing two double concertos commissioned by clarinetist producer Sunny Kang and violinists Francisco Fullana and Michael Guttman co-commissioned by Classical Music Institute of San Antonio, Balearic Islands Symphony and Metropolis Ensemble. More at JPJofre.com

The JP Jofre Hard Tango Chamber Band, based in NYC, was started in 2008 by bandoneonist and composer Juan Pablo (J.P.) Jofre. The quintet focuses on Jofre’s original works as well as authentic interpretations of legendary composer Astor Piazzolla. Argentinian expatriate JP Jofre, highlighted several times by the New York Times, and praised by Lincoln Center, who called him “one of today’s leading tango artists,” has seen his reputation grow by leaps and bounds. After its debut performance at the Public Theatre in NYC in 2008, the group has appeared at Great Performers at Lincoln Center, Celebrities Series of Boston, and Seattle Town Hall, Seoul Art Center, Argentina, Panama World Music Festiva, Pro Arte in Puerto Rico and Tokyo-Japan among many others.

The current band lineup consists of:
JP Jofre, bandoneon
Eric Wyrick, violin
Chris Johnson, double bass
Pablo Cafici, piano
Holgen Gjoni, cello

Eric Wyrick, violin
Violinist Eric Wyrick is Concertmaster of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and has been an Orpheus Chamber Orchestra member and frequent leader since 1988. Born in New York City, Wyrick started playing the violin at 4 years old. He attended The Juilliard School, studying with Dorothy DeLay, and his varied orchestral career began with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic at the age of 14. Wyrick has had solo television appearances including the BBC’s “Great Composers” Series, is an active chamber musician with the NJSO Chamber Players, and is a founding performer at the Bard Music Festival. He has recorded for Bridge Records, Vanguard and, with Orpheus, Deutsche Grammophon.

Chris Johnson, bass
Mr. Johnson won his first orchestral job in 2007 with the New Haven Symphony. He was the principal bass from 2008-2011 in the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas and co-principal of The New York Chamber Virtuosi in 2010. Chris has also filled in as a substitute bassist in Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony in Miami as well as the Verbier Festival Orchestra in Switzerland. The summer of 2010 Chris attended the Pacific Music Festival in Japan. The year of 2013 he won a position in the Allentown Symphony Orchestra in Pennsylvania and 1st place in the International Society of Bassist (ISB) Orchestral Competition.

Pablo Cafici, piano
Pablo Cafici is an Argentinian pianist, music producer, recording artist, tour artist and composer based in New York City since 2015. He’s been a member of the JP Jofre Hard Tango Chamber Band since 2015 and has toured extensively in Asia with 16 Grammy Award Winner clarinetist Paquito D’ Rivera. He produced, mixed and performed in the albums “Manifiesto” and the “Double Concerto for Bandoneon and violin N.1 ” recorded with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Pablo Cafici has mixed and produced other JP Jofre’s works like duets with Kyung Sun Lee, Ji in Yang, Michael Katz, and mixing “Bandoneon y cuerdas” with the Catalyst String Quartet.

Holgen Gjoni, cello
Hailed for his “seriousness and depth of an authentic concert soloist”, Holgen Gjoni has performed as soloist and recitalist throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. He has been praised internationally by critics for his “technique, beauty of sound and emotional projection”, “tempestuous musical sensibility, marked by an ineffable luminosity of expression”, “an elite musician”, while Yo-Yo Ma writes of him as “a cellist of great talent”. Mr. Gjoni joined the cello section of the San Antonio Symphony in September 2015 and is Adjunct Professor of Cello at Saint Mary University, as well as Education Assistant Director at the Cactus Pear Music Festival in San Antonio, Texas.

Originally from Córdoba, Argentina, Vocalist and Music Educator Sofia Tosello is a cherished voice in the vibrant scene of New York City artists who are redefining Latin American song. Christopher Loundon, writing in Jazz Times, notes they “ The next wave in Latin –American jazz may well begin with Tosello”. Sofia has performed and recorded with artists such as Grammy Winner Mexican Pop singer Thalia, Horacio “ El Negro Hernandez”, Grammy-Winner Pedro Giraudo Jazz Orchestra, Guy Mendilow Ensemble, Aquiles Baez, Mariela Franganillo Dance Company, Polly Ferman and Glamour Tango, among others. Ms Tosello has performed in renowned stages in the USA, Asia and Latin America.

In the fall 2011 and 2012 she had been part of the music faculty at Swarnabhommi Academy of Music in Chennai, India along with musicians such as Victor Wooten, Dafnis Prieto among others. She is currently one of the Jazz Vocal Professors at New Jersey City University. Ms.Tosello is also currently teaching jazz for young people through Webop Music Program at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

“The purity of Tosello’s voice is matched by the vibrancy of her emotional palette and inventiveness of her cross-cultural technique.”
– Christopher Loudon, Jazz Times
www.sofiatosello.com

– Are tickets required for entry to the concert?
Yes, but they are free! Seating is first-come-first-served.

– How do I get a ticket?
Tickets are available on this page or on Eventbrite. 

– Why can I only get two tickets at a time? What if I bring my family?
Because of a large amount of duplicating information coming through on our end, ticket numbers are reserved for two maximum, but this does not mean you are restricted access to two people only. As long as one member of the party presents their ticket at the door, any party size will be allowed in. Any member of your party may also register for tickets separately if they so choose.

– What do I show at the door?
To help our attendants, please have your ticket ready when you get there. Attendants will be ready to scan the QR code on your ticket (print, email, or app).

– What if I forget to get a ticket(s) or don’t have one when I get there?
An attendant at the door can help you register and get in quickly and easily. If you have registered but have forgotten the ticket, an attendant can pull up your name and check you in manually.

– What are the current health protocols I need to follow?
Masks are currently strongly encouraged. The event organizer may make the decision to require masks at any time leading up to the event.

– How do I get to the San Fernando Cathedral? Where do I park?
The San Fernando Cathedral lies at the center of downtown San Antonio at: 115 Main Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205.

While there is no dedicated parking for the Cathedral, there are many close parking options. City Paystations and meters are FREE on Sundays, and you can find more info and options on our website here.

There are three (3) main entrances to the Cathedral: two (2) main front (east) entrances off Main Plaza and one (1) side entrance for wheelchair-accessibility on the left (south) side.

– Can I take picture(s) or video(s)?
No flash photography. We ask that you limit photos or videos to a minimum during the actual performance as a courtesy to our artists.

– Is there a dessert reception after the concerts like last physical season?
Until further notice, the Meet The Artist receptions after performances will be cancelled due to health & safety concerns.

– When will tickets for the next concert of Russell Hill Rogers Musical Evenings at San Fernando Cathedral be available?
Tickets for the next concert open up after this event has concluded.

Any other questions? Contact us.