On October 27, 2011, the Riverside Community Arts Association (RCAA) teamed up with the Mission Inn Museum and Foundation to organize “Music Without Borders,” a collaborative concert featuring the internationally renowned Ensenada Chamber Orchestra and Riverside Lyric Opera. The International Relations Council of Riverside, which promotes Riverside’s longstanding sister city relationship with Ensenada, was also involved in presenting the successful event that was held in the historic Music Room of the Mission Inn Hotel.
 
“We were thrilled to introduce this fine musical organization from Ensenada to this area,” said Mark Schooley, Executive Director of the Riverside Community Arts Association. “It seemed a natural thing to pair them with our own opera company, which is rapidly attracting attention from throughout the region with its own high level of performances. Reducing the distance between our two sister cities in this manner helps to connect not only the two international communities, but also the people from within our own community.”
 
“Music Without Borders” featured works by Mexican composers including the United States premiere of “Piece for String Orchestra” by renowned Mexican composer José Pablo Moncayo. The musicologist Eduardo Contreras Soto recently discovered this Moncayo piece, which had its world premiere in the city of Ensenada by the Ensenada Chamber Orchestra on September 20, 2011. This work, thought to be composed in the 1930’s, remained unpublished in the archives of Ediciones Mexicanas de Música, and was authorized for release to the orchestra by the composer’s family. In conjunction with the Riverside Lyric Opera, the Ensenada Chamber Orchestra (Orquesta de Cámara de Ensenada) also performed selections from Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

In March of this year, the Ensenada Chamber Orchestra and the Riverside Lyric Opera jointly presented a sold out concert featuring highlights from Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” at Ensenada’s historic Riviera Cultural Center.
 
According to RCAA director Mark Schooley, who is also the chairperson of the Mexico Committee of the International Relations Council of Riverside, “The combination of both our Opera and the Ensenada Orchestra is very energetic and exciting. Ensenada is emerging as a great arts and cultural center and shares many arts related programming avenues in common with Riverside. I am excited about cultural exchanges featuring our artists and musicians partnering on projects with Ensenada, as well as our other international sister cities.”
 
For more information about upcoming Riverside-Ensenada cultural exchanges, contact Mark Schooley at U.S. tel. (951)682-6737; e-mail 
  

ROSARITO BEACH, Baja California, Mexico – About 70 community leaders in Baja’s expatriate community attended the first summit of the Baja Image Committee (BIC). It was organized for foreign residents who want to promote a positive and accurate portrait of the region. The two-day summit entitled “Building Baja’s Tomorrow’s Today” was held June 8th and 9th at the Rosarito Beach Hotel, which provided free lodging and meals for those attending. The event was a response to requests from many of the thousands of expats who live in the region. Many have expressed a desire to do more to help convey an accurate picture of life in Baja, especially to people living in the United States.
 
The summit featured testimonials from many of those residents, including some who said reports of scattered drug-related violence in recent years had made some friends and relatives reluctant to visit. Those concerns are considered a large factor in the decline in tourism and visitors the past several years, although a strong rebound has been noted this Easter and Memorial Day weekend, the traditional beginning of the summer season. The summit included a panel discussion as well as presentations on methods of gathering and distributing accurate and positive information, plus using social networks.
 
Hugo Torres, head of the Baja Image Committee and former Rosario mayor, said that “always telling the truth” is critical for such efforts to succeed. It is essential that government officials work hard to correct any problems that do exist, he added. Baja State Tourism Secretary Juan Tintos and Arturo Martinez, director of visitor assistance, told of government efforts to make visitors more comfortable and welcome, including the 078 assistance number which is in operation 24 hours day and seven days a week. Steven Kashkett, U.S. Consul General for Baja, also attended the session to give an off-the-record briefing.
 
Rosarito resident Ken Bell, who leads the expatriate committee of the Baja Image Committee, pointed out that much work remains after the summit to accomplish goals that have been established. Bell, along with Rosarito’s tourism delegate Cesar Rivera, were summit moderators.
 
Other speakers included Emerson College Professor Gregory Payne, who has established a Rediscover Rosarito project that he said can be applied to all of Baja. “You’re all your own TV networks,” Payne said, referring to the access that everyone has to post videos on You Tube and similar sites. Chris Hill, of the Live Mexico campaign, and representatives of Allison & Partners public relations also spoke.
 
Expatriate residents from Rosarito, Ensenada, San Felipe and Tijuana who attended the summit are expected to share information and strategies for promoting a full, accurate and positive regional image with others in coming months.

Photos top row: Hugo Torres, head of the Baja Image Committee; BIC panelists from Ensenada, San Felipe & Rosarito;  Baja California State Tourism Secretary Juan Tintos.
Photos bottom row: Margit Gantt, Juan Saldana & Vivian Scott at Ensenada Live It! booth; Joanna Jones, Jackie Alameda, Carlos Duran, Hugo Torres, Marty Alameda & Katrina Tinoco; John Pack & Cuba Gooding, Sr.

WorldBeat Center Opens a New Cultural Center in Ensenada
photo by connie ellig