ÓperaMaya, IU and the Latin American Music Center will present a series of events in celebration of culture and identity — ¡Viva!, A Celebration Of LIFE! — on Feb. 21 through 23. All events are free and open to the public, though events at La Casa Latino Cultural Center require reservation.
Mary Grogan, general director of ÓperaMaya and Jacobs School of Music alumna, created the music and arts foundation in 2009. The foundation has dual headquarters in Valladolid, Mexico, and Bloomington.
“It has the mission to create world-renowned artistic expressions that exemplify both the historical and modern Maya culture,” according to the ÓperaMaya website.
Events include lunch and poetry readings with poet Wildernain Villegas Carrillo, winner of the Mexican National Prize in Poetry.
Wednesday, Feb. 21
The opening ceremony and dinner will take place 7:30 p.m. at La Casa.
Thursday, Feb. 22
The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies will host Maya Culture Night: Poetry, Music, and Art at 6:30 p.m. in the Global and International Studies Building, Room 2131.
The Salón Latino Chamber Music Series: “New Music for Latin American Composers” will take place at 8 p.m. in Auer Hall of the Simon Music Center. The event will feature the debut of ÓperaMaya 2017 Composition Competition Winner, "Ja’K’áak, Cantata in Yucatec Maya," by Mexican composer Luis Ruelas. The piece is based on a poem by Carrillo. Both the poet and composer are to be in attendance.
Friday, Feb. 23
Lunch with Carrillo will be at noon at La Casa. The discussion will revolve around Maya identity and cultural equity, according to the press release.
Carrillo will give a reading at 6 p.m. at the Thomas Gallery, 107 North College Avenue, followed by a reception and closing ceremony at 8:30 p.m.
Clark Gudas
