Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Experience live jazz piano at Montalvo Arts Center this Sunday, December 2!

We are pleased to partner with arts organizations throughout Silicon Valley to promote arts appreciation and participation throughout the year. The Montalvo Arts Center is an amazing treasure of arts experiences, showcasing insightful and dynamic artists representing a variety of artistic disciplines. Please check out the following details about Montalvo's upcoming concert featuring the jazz master Alfredo Rodriguez this Sunday, December 2, at 7:30 pm!

ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ, SOLO PIANO
General: $45/$40 || Members: $40/$36
“The audience briefly sat in stunned silence... before erupting into a roaring ovation” 
- The Boston Herald 
“A pianist so intense, so beautiful, and so emotive you never, ever want the music to stop”
- Savvant Music

One of the hottest young jazz pianists performing today,  Cuban-born Alfredo Rodríguez “sounds the way Monk might have sounded if he had been born in Chick Corea’s body and raised on a diet of Bach, Chopin, and Stravinsky in a Havana conservatory” [San Jose Mercury News]. At the age of only 27 years old, he has brought his dazzling, virtuoso style to impressive venues all over the world, including (two years ago) the Montalvo Arts Center, where he received standing ovations and cheers from audiences.

Born in Havana, Rodríguez is the son of a popular singer, television presenter and entertainer of the same name. Evidencing talent at a very early age, young Alfredo began his formal music education at seven. He studied classical music at some of the finest musical conservatories in Cuba, including the Conservatorio Amadeo Roldán and the Instituto Superior de Arte.  He also supplemented his education with extensive experience playing popular music in his father’s TV band since the age of 14.


All of these auspicious elements coalesced in 2006, when Rodríguez was selected to play at the Montreux Jazz Festival. While there, his virtuoso playing came to the attention of the legendary record producer Quincy Jones, who now represents him. Jones says of Rodríguez, “he is very special and I do not say that easily…I have been surrounded by the best musicians in the world my entire life and he is one of the best.” 

Buy tickets to Alfredo’s performance at Montalvo by visiting Ticketmaster.com or calling the Montalvo Box Office at 408-961-5858, M-F, 11 am – 4 pm. 

For further information, visit montalvoarts.org, call 408-961-5858, or email info@montalvoarts.org.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

We're giving away gift certificates for art instruction!

We are pleased to be offering a special October giveaway in collaboration with the School of Arts & Culture @MHP, as part of our 4th annual celebration of National Arts and Humanities Month in Silicon Valley! To enter a random drawing for one of four $50 gift certificates for classes at the School of Arts & Culture @MHP, click "Like" on Arts Action 21's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/artsaction21) by October 31. Winners will be announced on November 1.

The School of Arts & Culture @MHP is located at 1700 Alum Rock Avenue, in San Jose, CA. The School offers classes in visual arts, music, dance and theater, including instruction in Mexican mural painting, mariachi and classical guitar. To learn more about the School, please visit: http://schoolofartsandculture.org/.

Friday, October 19, 2012

National Arts and Humanities Month celebration comes to East San Jose

We are excited to be collaborating with the School of Arts & Culture @MHP, to present an educational program for elementary school students next Wednesday, October 24. We are looking forward to bringing National Arts and Humanities Month to the next generation of arts lovers and practitioners!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Join us for our 2012 celebration of National Arts and Humanities Month!


In celebration of National Arts and Humanities Month, Arts Action 21 is pleased to co-present a special program with the Fortnightly Music Club. The concert will feature piano solo music from the Romantic period, two selections by Bay Area composer Nancy Bloomer Deussen, and a medley of pieces for saxophone quartet.

Pianist Patricia Cheng will begin the program with Johannes Brahms' last set of piano pieces (opus 119) and Frederic Chopin's second Scherzo in B-Flat Minor (opus 31).  The concert will also feature performances by pianist Melissa Smith, flutist Tomiko Tsai, tenor saxophonist Ted Brown and other excellent musicians! 

The event will be held on Sunday, October 14, 2012 at 7:00 pm in the Lucie Stern Community Center Ballroom, located at 1305 Middlefield Road, in Palo Alto, CA. Free parking is available in adjacent lots and streets.


Admission is free, and refreshments will be served following the program.

For complete program details, please visit our Event Page.  

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Concert at MHP was warmly received!

We are pleased to share some of the feedback that we received from audience members, after our October 23 concert at the School of Arts & Culture @MHP.

"[The concert] was world class and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The friends we brought were [also] very impressed with the performance and the plaza." - Frank M.

"[I] enjoyed the skill of [the] performers [and was] exposed to new pieces." - Maria C.

"The artists are so professional. I'm very impressed." - Anonymous

"Good performance." - Anonymous

"Excellent." - Anonymous

Thanks, everyone, for your support for our work!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Win Tickets or Gift Certificates from Local Arts Organizations

We have great news. Arts Action 21 has expanded its October giveaway. First of all, the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts (MVCPA) has increased the value of their prize vouchers to $100. Each of the two vouchers are valid for two tickets at MVCPA valued up to $100.

The Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) has joined in the giveaway by offering two gift certificates valued at $75 each and good for classes or camps at CMSA. And the School of Arts and Culture @MHP has contributed two gift certificates good for classes valued at $50 each.

To enter our random drawing for these fantastic prizes, join our Facebook page during the month of October 2011! Since not everyone has a Facebook account, Arts Action 21 is also providing an alternative way of entering the drawing. Simply leave your name and e-mail address on the form below.

So, that's it. You now have six chances to win a great prize from Arts Action 21 and our community supporters.

Limit one entry per person. You may enter the drawing by "liking" our Facebook page, or by completing the online entry form. Contest ends at midnight 10/31/2011. Each winner will be notified, and must be able to pick up his/her prize at MVCPA, CSMA or the School of Arts & Culture @MHP in Mountain View or San Jose, California. Unclaimed prizes will be returned for a drawing among the remaining eligible entries.

Arts Action 21 is dedicated to partnering with local arts organizations in Silicon Valley. If you would like promote your organization, or would like to sponsor a giveaway, please contact us at the e-mail address listed in the sidebar.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Join us for our upcoming events on October 16 and October 23!

SUNDAY ARTS LIVE 2011
Multicultural Perspectives: A Showcase of Ethnic Dance and Music
Traditional disciplines and contemporary interpretations will be featured in this array of cultural offerings.  The featured performing groups will include the Abhinaya Dance Company of San Jose, the Firebird Youth Chinese Orchestra, Los Lupenos de San Jose and the Marimo-Kai Koto Ensemble.
Sunday, October 16, 2:00 pm
Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, SecondStage
500 Castro Street, Mountain View, CA
Free admission.  Donations accepted.

Exploring Artistic Heritage: A Piano and Chamber Music Concert
Pianist Patricia Cheng (in collaboration with French hornist Armando Castellano, violinist Po-Wei Lai and moderator Hector Armienta) will present a concert of works by Bach, Beethoven and Brahms, illuminating the role of the past in the creative process.
1st performance:
Sunday, October 16, 7:30 pm
Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, SecondStage
500 Castro Street, Mountain View, CA
$10 suggested donation.

2nd performance:
Sunday, October 23, 2:00 pm
School of Arts & Culture @MHP
1700 Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose, CA
$10 suggested donation.