Above / Naperville Sister Cities Commission will celebrate Día de los Muertos and Sister City Patzcuaro, Mexico, with a little help from Chicago Sinfonietta on stage in the Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave.
The Naperville Sister Cities Commission has much to celebrate on the Day of the Dead and they have found an eager and willing collaborator in the Chicago Sinfonietta on Nov. 1.
The Commission and the Sinfonietta’s West Suburban Friends will join in presenting a Dia de Los Muertos Benefit Brunch at 1PM Sun, Nov. 1, in Madden Theatre prior to the annual Dia de Los Muertos Concert which is slated to begin at 3PM in Wentz Concert Hall.
Naperville residents are invited to celebrate this special holiday in the spirit of their Sister City Patzcuaro, Mexico, where the festive celebration began and where one of the largest celebrations in Mexico happens each year. Music, ofrendas (colorful offering altars), tamales, traditional dance and costumes are highlights of the Dia celebration.
“This is a wonderful way to expose your family to a rich cultural tradition, very different from our American Halloween, as it honors departed loved ones and offers them the joys of life on earth one more time on this one day,” noted former Sister Cities Commissioner and Chicago Sinfonietta Friend Steve Treacy. “We look forward to sharing this rich and colorful tradition with Naperville while honoring our Sister City Patzcuaro and raising important funds for youth education and community outreach by our own professional orchestra.”
Mexican-American Brunch & Silent Auction
“A Party to Celebrate the Dearly Departed,” the event will feature a lavish spread of Mexican and American brunch fare, signature cocktails, juices and coffee, Mariachi Matters Musicians, a dance performance by the Mexican Folkoric Dance Company of Chicago, kid friendly activities, face painting, a Day of the Dead costume contest and an exciting silent auction.
Guests are invited to come in costume if they like or to don the colorful masks provided and join the traditional Marigold Procession into Wentz Concert Hall accompanied by Mariachi Matters youth musicians.
In their annual Día de los Muertos concert directly following the brunch, Chicago Sinfonietta captures the duality of grief and joy intrinsic to the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead. The orchestra is joined by Colombian guest conductor Andrés Franco of Tulsa’s Signature Symphony and Waubonsie Valley High School Varsity Choir.
Tickets for the brunch start at $50 with a special offer of $100 to purchase an event and concert ticket together. The Sinfonietta is also offering an option for a discounted family pack.
For more information, visit www.chicagosinfonietta.org/Dia2015. Tickets are available for purchase now via phone at (312) 284-1559 or online.
