Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
It was a cosmic thrill that took place on May 4th. The Galactic Bi-National Concert brought down the house in an interstellar symphony of music and friendship! The enchanting evening marked the celebration of the Sister City partnership between McAllen, Texas, and Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
The stage was alive with the spirited performances of high school orchestras from McAllen Independent District (M.I.S.D.), and the equally passionate student orchestras of SOMA from Apodaca, Nuevo Leon. The evening was a masterclass of melody, with compositions from some of the galaxy’s greatest composers such as Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, John Williams, and Michael Mogensen resonating through the auditorium.
Adding to the grandeur of the occasion was the iconic, resounding performance of the Imperial March from Star Wars music. The performance reached a climax as the two cities: McAllen and Apodaca Nuevo Leon, united their Symphony Orchestra SOMA in a symphony of sounds. It was a grand spectacle, an unforgettable experience of phenomenal music that will echo in the hearts of attendees for years to come.
The energy from the audience was palpable, their excitement mirrored by the vivacious performers. The youthful musicians of SOMA painted a vibrant musical canvas with beautiful strains of Mexican music. Vivaldi’s interpretation performance proved to be an exhilarating thrill ride, leading to the grand finale where both orchestras came together for the explosive rendition of the Imperial March, musical theme of the Star Wars film franchise.
The spectacular concert was the crowning achievement of the formalization of the Sister City partnership between McAllen and Apodaca. This milestone was marked with a Sister City Agreement signed by the City of Apodaca’s Mayor Cesar Garza Villarreal and McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos, pledging mutual support in fostering business, trade and investments, educational and cultural exchanges, tourism promotion, and sharing of best practices.
The fruits of this collaboration are already in sight, with bilateral trade missions exploring economic development opportunities, students gaining access to relevant workshops, promotional campaigns highlighting tourist attractions, and the exchange of best practices in urban planning and more. The concert was a testament to what can be achieved when communities come together, beautifully exemplified by the 700k strong industrial city of Apodaca, the heart of Nuevo Leon’s industrial area, and the home to Monterrey International Airport.
The Galactic Bi-National Concert was a galaxy of stars, with the McAllen Independent School District and SOMA dazzling in their performances. A lineup of sponsors supported this mesmerizing concert, including the McAllen-Hidalgo Reynosa International Bridge, the Anzalduas International Bridge, the McAllen Economic Development Corporation, and the McAllen Chamber of Commerce.
The event took place at the McAllen Performing Arts Center. The magnificent venue of the Bi-National Concert, echoed with the powerful message of unity and the universal language of music, etching an unforgettable chapter in the cultural exchange between the two great cities.
