Classical Quartet Agarita Announces Sixth Season
Agarita, an innovative chamber ensemble dedicated to producing bold, collaborative musical events, is excited to announce its sixth concert season with six unique performances, inspiring art and music for the community through the collaboration of local and international artists. These performances are always bilingual, free and open to all.
The quartet kicks off its 2023-2024 season on Sept. 2nd, with members of the Grammy award-winning Parker Quartet, including violinist Daniel Chong, “one of the most exciting and versatile musicians of his generation” and violist Jessica Bodner, described by the New York Times as a “soulful soloist.” In the spring of 2024, Agarita will bring back acclaimed Spanish guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas to the San Antonio Botanical Garden on Feb. 24th and welcome Colombian award-winning cellist Santiago Cañón Valencia to the Carver Community Cultural Center on Apr. 27th.
Continuing with its dedication to the community, Agarita will offer its free mobile, open air Humble Hall performances to all ten council districts throughout San Antonio. This community initiative brings live, world-class, innovative musical performances to the city while eliminating the risk, time and expense of traveling to a concert hall or venue. Through Agarita Inspires!, Agarita has plans to also visit more than 35 schools and institutions such as the San Antonio Children’s Hospital, Haven for Hope, and juvenile detention centers. This initiative provides innovative music education to thousands of Bexar County students and residents.
Throughout these last five years, Agarita, whose mission is to offer audiences a new way to experience classical and contemporary music, has performed in front of more than 27,000 audience members, providing 128 concerts at 86 venues and collaborating with 35 artists and groups. This past June, the troupe provided an innovative musical experience at the San Antonio Museum of Art.
“It is our dream to continue to have Agarita impact the lives of the community through inspiring music and art for the next five years,” said Agarita co-founder Marisa Bushman. “Thanks to the community’s support, we have exceeded all of our expectations. Whether it be in schools with Agarita Inspires!, at a park with our Humble Hall, or collaborating with artists at a community concert, we are making a lasting impact in our community.”
These performances are generously supported by donors in the Agarita Family. A grand new addition to the family is the San Antonio Area Foundation, which will support Agarita’s general operating expenses, with an average contribution of $15,000 annually through 2025 as part of its 2023 Responsive Grant.
“In addition to contributions received by our generous donors, we are extremely grateful for the Area Foundation Grant that allows us to continue providing quality performances to the community for free,” added Ms. Bushman.
An innovative chamber ensemble dedicated to producing bold, collaborative musical events, Agarita offers new ways to experience classical and contemporary music. Founded by Daniel Anastasio (piano), Marisa Bushman (viola), Ignacio Gallego (cello), and Sarah Silver Manzke (violin), Agarita nourishes the local community through artistic collaborations, community engagement and free, adventurous programming. With concise, eclectic performances that are “splendid — unified, spirited, [and] well prepared” (Greenberg, Incident Light), the young chamber group offers a new, open-armed experience for listeners.
Agarita’s Humble Hall was voted as one of San Antonio Magazine‘s most unconventional art experiences in its Best of the City 2022! In 2021, San Antonio Magazine‘s Best of the City named Agarita as its Culture winner for its collaboration with area partners. It works intimately with local artists of various genres to weave cross-artistic narratives for each concert.
As a nonprofit organization, Agarita believes that the arts should be accessible to everyone in its community. Agarita presents free public concerts, performs at local schools and offers opportunities for other artists through its collaborations. For more information and to support the group follow Agarita’s upcoming projects and future performances here, on Facebook at @Agaritachamberplayers or on Instagram @Agarita_San_Antonio. For further questions, you can reach the members of Agarita by email at agaritachamberplayers@gmail.com.
AGARITA’S 2023-2024 SEASON*
Agarita + Members of the Grammy-Winning Parker Quartet
Daniel Chong, Violin
Jessica Bodner, Viola
To be held at UIW Diane Bennack Concert Hall Sept. 2nd at 7:30 p.m.
Agarita at the Motherhouse Chapel
To be held at Chapel of the Incarnate Word Oct. 21st at 7:30 p.m.
Agarita + The Public Theater of San Antonio
To be held at Russell Rogers Theater, Jan. 27th at 7:30 p.m.
Agarita + Acclaimed Guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas
To be held at the Betty Kelso Center at San Antonio Botanical Garden, Feb. 24th at 7:30 p.m.
Agarita + Colombian Award-Winning Cellist Santiago Cañón Valencia
To be held at the Carver Community Cultural Center, Apr. 27th at 7:30 p.m.
Agarita + The Witte
To be held at Dawson Family Hall at The Witte, June 18th at 7:30 p.m.
*Performances and dates are subject to change.
About the San Antonio Area Foundation:
The San Antonio Area Foundation (SAAFdn) has served as the city’s most trusted and impactful philanthropic partner for nearly 60 years, growing to become one of the top 20 community foundations in the nation. The Area Foundation strives to be our region’s most trusted and impactful philanthropic partner, working to close opportunity gaps for those who need it most. The Area Foundation manages more than 500 charitable funds totaling over $1 billion in assets and serves hundreds of nonprofit organizations every year Grantmaking exceeded $57 million in 2022, including more than $7.5 million in college scholarships. Learn more at saafdn.org.
Feature photo (l-r): Agarita members Sarah Silver Manzke, Daniel Anastasio, Marisa Bushman and Ignacio Gallego. Photo courtesy Agarita.
