MEXICO’S ACCLAIMED CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL ENSEMBLE
ONIX ENSAMBLE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2009
AT THE McCULLOUGH THEATRE FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY!
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

“Unique in Latin America, exceptional, hypnotic…with amazing strength and musical expressiveness.” – Classical Music Review

ONIX ENSAMBLE is an acclaimed group of Mexican musicians dedicated to promoting the best of Latin American contemporary music today. All members are seasoned, international performers, with extensive careers working both as soloists as well as members of the ensemble.

ONIX was founded in 1993 by Mexican musician and “new music advocate” Alejandro Escuer. The mission of the group is to be the voice of Mexican and Latin American composers under the honored principals of cultural diversity, high quality musical craftsmanship and artistic originality.

ONIX offers a unique panorama of exclusive dedicated works, which are often influenced by literature, theatre, the visual arts and new technologies. With a repertoire that ranges from the traditional to the most radically innovative, ONIX defines itself as first and foremost a Mexican ensemble. However, in addition to their vast repertoire of works by Mexican and Latin American composers, the group has premiered works by the likes of Gyorgy Ligeti and Luciano Berio, as well as presented programs containing works by John Cage, Steve Reich, George Crumb, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, and Bela Bartok, to name just a few.

The main strategy of the ensemble consists of national and international collaborations that translate into recordings, world premieres, commissions, residencies, tours and the launching of projects such as the ONIX Intercultural Music Composition Competition. ONIX has premiered many works dedicated to the ensemble and has toured extensively in Mexico, the United States, South America and Asia.

ONIX is also a non-profit organization with the mission to enhance and redirect the role of music in society through community and educational projects of high standards and human values. All members are highly qualified professors at the National University of Mexico.

This performance is a part of the Performing Arts Center’s ArtesAméricas program.

In partnership with the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies , ArtesAméricas promotes cultural dialogue in the Americas through the performing arts. In addition to presenting the best performing artists from throughout the hemisphere, ArtesAméricas supports events and programs that serve as catalysts to broaden the understanding, appreciation, and support for the performing arts, by:

• Sponsoring lectures, workshops, master classes, and other events before and after performances to create opportunities for audiences and artists to interact.

• Creating comprehensive materials on artists and their countries to contextualize the experience of the art forms presented for audiences and the community.

• Sharing the University of Texas at Austin’s vast academic and educational resources with audiences and artists.

• Planning, facilitating, and executing educational and professional exchanges throughout the hemisphere, especially with faculty, staff, and students from the College of Fine Arts , including The Butler School of Music and The Department of Theatre and Dance.

• Encouraging the presentation of Latin American and US Latino artists throughout the United States.

Since its inception in 2002, ArtesAméricas has worked with dozens of artists from across the hemisphere on a wide variety of activities.

CALENDAR LISTING:

Wednesday, March 11, 2009, 8:00 pm – The University of Texas at Austin Performing Arts Center presents Onix Ensamble at the Performing Arts Center’s McCullough Theatre (2350 Robert Dedman Dr.). A map of the campus: http://www.utpac.org/venues/mccullough. Tickets ($36.00 / limited number of $10 tickets for UT students / discounted tickets available for UT faculty & staff) are on sale now at the authorized ticket outlets, which include the Bass Concert Hall Box Office, most H-E-B stores and all Texas Box Office outlets, online at www.utpac.org, or by calling (512) 477-6060 or (800) 982-BEVO.

PRESS CONTACT:
Gene Bartholomew
512.471.0632
gbartholomew@utpac.org