Spotlight falls on Alborada

The traditional music of the Andes and Mexico, Peru and other Latin American countries will fill the Lyceum Theatre this weekend to entice music lovers of all ages.

Alborada, the Batista family music group, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday as the inaugural event of the Clovis Community College Cultural Arts Series for fall 2003.

“We’re thrilled to have them here,” said Christy Mendoza, director of CCC’s Cultural Arts Series. “They’re on a tour throughout the state. They play Andean and Mexican and other Latin American songs. One of my favorite songs is they blend pan flutes and other South American instruments with Latin American music. It’s wonderful, soothing, relaxing sounds.”

Early arrivals at 7 p.m. will be able to catch the opening act — the Braveheart Storytellers from Lincoln-Jackson Arts Academy.

“The Braveheart Storytellers will be telling colorful, entertaining tales,” Mendoza said. “I saw them rehearsing. They’re second-graders through fifth- and sixth-graders. They’re very cute.”

Tickets for the concert are $5 and $10 and are on sale at the Clovis Community College cashier windows.

“Alborada” means the first light in the morning. “Alborada” to the Batista family signals the beginning of a new day as they take their music throughout the world.

Milo Batista was one of the founding members of “Khenany” and toured with them extensively throughout the United States, including performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and in many of the nation’s leading theaters and concert halls.

Milo, with his family band, plays a diverse program of songs and tunes from Central and South America along with popular songs from the United States.

The family plays more than 30 different instruments during the course of their show. Alborada members include, besides Milo, his wife Lourdes, son Paul, 16, and daughter Jhoanna, 12.

The Batistas annually perform nearly 200 student outreach concerts in schools everywhere in the country.

“We’ve played their CDs the past few days in the Commons,” said Kevin Sweeney, campus life and student leadership coordinator at CCC. “The best thing about them is they’re a family, and I think it’s a great way for families to spend time together by coming to a concert like this. It’s family oriented, and you get educated at the same time.”