The Quilt: Live in Concert – Russell Hill Rogers Musical Evenings

Inspired by MBAW’s award-winning documentary “The Quilt”, this special concert brings together The Jones Family Singers, San Antonio Gospel Heritage Choir (of SAAACAM), Nicole Cherry, Aaron Prado, and the Agarita Chamber Ensemble to celebrate the rich legacy of African American music. As part of DreamWeek San Antonio, the performance highlights genres born from deep cultural history with soulful and powerful storytelling. Venue Schedule 6:15 PM – Doors Open 7 PM – Concert Begins The Jones Family Singers, consisting in part of five sisters, two brothers and their father, have been tearing up churches and festivals for almost three decades. And now with Live from Mt. Zion, a follow up to 2014’s critically acclaimed studio effort The Spirit Speaks (Arts+Labor), this sensational gospel band has translated their awe inspiring stage show to an album that’s contagious and thrilling; a full on emotional explosion of passion and precision. Recorded at the family’s home base, The Mt. Zion Pentecostal Holiness Church in the tiny town of Markham, Texas, this powerful compilation of songs shows a dynamic and timeless range of material and repertoire paired with vocal virtuosity and musicianship that holds its own with the top acts on the touring circuit today. “Modern practitioners of a long musical tradition…infusing their joyful, reverent songs with elements of vintage soul and R&B” declares the Wall Street Journal. “The three-generation gospel collective’s high-energy performances are the living embodiment of the indelible connection between the black church and its rock and soul offspring” notes the Austin Chronicle. “It was all joyful praise, brilliantly timed with one crescendo after another” boasts the New York Times, and both Rolling Stone and NPR called them “a must see act” at SXSW. The Jones Family Singers received a standing ovation at Lincoln Center and showcased at New York City’s globalFEST and The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC in January 2015. The past couple of years saw them criss-crossing the globe with domestic and international appearances including Newport Folk Festival, Playboy Jazz Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, a two week tour of Russia, and an epic journey to the Holy Land. Impressed by the band’s fervor onstage and humility off, Austin filmmaker Alan Berg decided in 2012 to make a documentary that explored the triumphs and tribulations of this working gospel band. The artistry he witnessed onstage along with the compelling family dynamic came to fruition at film festivals last spring, entitled “The Jones Family Will Make a Way”. Buoyed by the live album and a growing fan base both religious and secular the band is eagerly hitting the road. Besides churches, nightclubs, concert series and music festivals, they’ve also brought their powerful musical ministry to prisons, interfaith events and community celebrations. Artist Website Bio: http://www.thejonesfamilysingers.com/the-band/ The San Antonio Gospel Heritage Choir was founded by San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM) in 2023 to celebrate the legacy of gospel music in San Antonio. This multi-generational, multicultural choir promotes SAAACAM’s mission to collect, preserve and share the history and cultural heritage of African descendants in San Antonio and the Southwest. This will be the choir’s second time (first in 2025) performing for “The Quilt: Live in Concert”, which is now becoming an annual favorite during Dreamweek San Antonio in January. Artist Website: https://saaacam.org/ An innovative chamber ensemble dedicated to producing bold, collaborative musical events, Agarita offers a new way to experience classical and contemporary music. Founded by Daniel Anastasio (piano), Marisa Bushman (viola), Ignacio Gallego (cello) and Sarah Silver Manzke (violin), Agarita nourishes their community through artistic collaborations, education, community engagement, and free, adventurous programming. With concise, eclectic performances that are “splendid – unified, spirited, well prepared” (Greenberg, Incident Light), the young chamber group offers a new, open-armed experience for listeners. Rooted in San Antonio, Texas, Agarita works intimately with artists of various genres to weave cross-artistic narratives for each concert, all accessible and free of charge to the community, in a bi-lingual format. Every program is unique. One concert with award-winning chef Elizabeth Johnson paired musical selections with dishes for the audience. Another with acclaimed poet Naomi Shihab Nye interwove her poetry readings with musical works inspired by her poetry. Writers, photographers, dancers, sculptors, lighting artists, art museums, and even a glassblower– Agarita is unafraid to pursue collaborations that challenge the concert medium to craft innovative, inspiring musical experiences. In terms of collaboration with other musicians, Agarita has performed with internationally acclaimed artists, including guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas, cellist Santiago Cañón-Valencia, the Grammy-winning Imani Winds, members of the Harlem, Parker, and Escher String Quartets, and many more. Artist Website: https://www.agarita.org Dr. Aaron Prado is a pianist, composer, educator, and radio personality based in San Antonio, Texas. Prado received a Doctorate of Musical Arts in piano performance at the University of Texas at Austin’s Butler School of Music in 2014. Prior to doctoral study, Prado attended Columbia University for undergraduate study and New York University for a Master’s Degree. From 2003-2009, Prado was Music Director and announcer at Trinity University’s jazz radio station – KRTU 91.7FM – and is currently the host of “Aaron Prado Presents” – heard Sundays 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. In 2011, Prado debuted his “San Antonio Jazz Suite” – a large-scale composition scored for big band, string quartet, and narration depicting the story of San Antonio. In 2015, Prado published a book of transcriptions of solo recordings by jazz pianist Bill Evans (published by Hal Leonard). In 2018, Prado received the Paul Elizondo Grant for the Performing Arts from The Artist Foundation of San Antonio to compose a concert work called “The Hero’s Journey” and the piece premiered at Luminaria 2018 at the Instituto Cultural de Mexico. In 2019, Prado released two new CDs “Live at Jazz, TX” with his sextet and a trio album of original music titled “And Now…” Prado teaches music at Northwest Vista College and performs regularly in the South Texas area with his ensembles. Artist Website: https://www.instagram.com/aaron_e_prado/ SPONSOR OF ARTISTIC FEES PARTNERS SPONSOR OF ARTISTIC FEES Tickets Tickets are required to enter the concert, but they are free! Seating is first-come-first-served. Tickets are available through each event on our event calendar or on Eventbrite. Check-in To help our staff and volunteers, please have your ticket ready when you get there. Staff and volunteers will be ready to scan the QR code located on your ticket (print, email, or app). Door Opening Door opening times for Musical Evenings events will occur at 6:15 PM, unless otherwise stated per event. Health & Safety Statement Musical Bridges Around the World will follow the most up-to-date safety guidelines for fine arts performance halls per the State of Texas, as well as any other measures necessary for the ensured safety of its attendees. It is within MBAW and the venue’s right and discretion as private entities to enact these safety protocols for its attendees. Lost Ticket/Refund Policy An attendant at the door can help you register and get in quickly and easily. If you have registered but have forgotten the ticket, an attendant can pull up your name and check you in manually. If you cannot attend, we ask that you cancel your free ticket order. This helps our ticket management process and eases the check-in process for staff/volunteers and guests on the day of. Photography & Video No flash photography or full-frame cameras unless given a press pass. We love for you to capture and share your experience, but we do ask that you be conscientious of others and the artists during the performance so as not to disrupt the event. Seating Seating is first-come-first-served, apart from any clearly marked reserved or VIP seating. Silence Your Phone Please silence phones/devices during the performance. Will Call Paper tickets are not available unless otherwise arranged, as all tickets run through the Eventbrite system. If you wish to print out your Eventbrite tickets for check-in, you may do so, but do not expect to be able to pick up physical tickets at a box office. Any other questions? Contact us. Accessibility Two ADA-accessible ramp building entrances are available on each side of the building. There are designated areas on the first floor of the theater for wheelchairs if needed. Second-floor mezzanine seating is not ADA accessible, as there is no elevator. Food & Drink No outside food or beverages. Parking Parking is FREE, and available at the following spots below (click to open Google Map location): Carver Administration lot St. Paul lot Carver Academy lot Center St. parking Gibbs St. parking Any other questions? Contact us.