Texas Border Business
After two years of construction and planning, the Performing Arts Complex at The University of Texas-Pan American is ready to make its debut on Thursday, April 23, with its Grand Premiere Concert.
To celebrate the highly anticipated grand opening of the 1,000-seat, state-of-the-art facility, UTPA has planned a spectacular evening of the arts, starting at 7:30 p.m. and featuring performances by faculty and student artists from UTPA and The University of Texas at Brownsville.
From the lilting strains of the string and wind orchestras, to the colorful dances of the UTPA Folklórico and the passionate music of the award-winning Mariachi Aztlán, the evening, sponsored by Plains Capital Bank, will have something for everyone.
“The new Performing Arts Complex will be a beautiful venue for wonderful events, fabulous performances, guest speakers and presentations,” said Dr. Dahlia Guerra, dean of the UTPA College of Arts and Humanities. “It will be the heart of the performing and fine arts in the Rio Grande Valley.”
The Performing Arts Complex was part of a $42.7 million project approved by The University of Texas System Board of Regents in 2011 that included renovations to the university’s Fine Arts Buildings B and C, which house practice rooms, classrooms, and music analysis and listening labs. PAC Building A will provide students and faculty support space with four rehearsal halls and dressing rooms.
The grand auditorium offers patrons an ultra-modern experience, with the latest in lighting and sound equipment, the best acoustics possible and built-in art galleries. PAC also provides much-needed academic space, with four large rehearsal halls that will be in constant use by some 400 music majors and future students of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, set to open in fall 2015, Guerra said.
“The PAC will bring great opportunity to UTRGV, providing the best facilities for the education and training of our students, and a fabulous arts venue to unite our community,” she said.
The Grand Premiere Concert will feature a variety of musical performances – including a spirited opening with more than 30 trumpets to commemorate the significance of this important moment for the Valley community. Other featured performances include the UTPA Choir, UTPA/UTB Classical Guitar Ensemble, UTPA Wind Ensemble, and UTPA String Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. Also, paintings by Kirk Clark, a patron of the UTPA arts, will be showcased in the new PAC art galleries.
Doors open at 7 p.m. for the Grand Premiere Concert, and the public is invited to be part of the free festivities. For more information or if special accommodations are needed to attend the concert, call (956) 665-5301.
