Posted: April 30, 2019Written by: Ritchie Bermudez

Cuesta College Community Programs presents A Salute to Cinco de Mayo, featuring the San Luis Obispo County Trumpet Alliance, on Sunday, May 5 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church in Morro Bay. The concert will be a benefit fundraising performance for the United Cerebral Palsy affiliate Arts for Living. Donations are accepted at the door.

Formed in 2011, the Trumpet Alliance promotes the rehearsal and performance of trumpet chamber music. The advanced group is comprised of local musicians who are also educators, business professionals, and retirees; admission to the group is by invitation or audition. The group is co-directed by Dr. Warren Balfour and Lyle Stobson.

Trumpet Alliance members include Curtis Bechtel, Danny Beher, Stephanie Douglass, Darin Gong, Derek Gong, Ted Hamm, Jess Hostetter, David Johns, Dane Jones, Mike Juner, Charlie Kim, Bruce Knowlton, Mitch Latting, Don Lopez, Rich Smucker, and Steve Vines. The percussion section features Eric Engstrom, Simone Gabriel, Gus Stork, and a special appearance by guitarist Taylor Hatch.

Music will be performed by the following composers: Franz Biebl, Zequinha de Abreu, Genaro Codina,  Kevin Kaishershot, David Marlatt, W.A. Mozart, Pascual Marquita Narro, and James Olcott. The concert will also include rousing renditions of the Mexican Hat Dance and Cielito Lindo.

Members of Arts for Living music and glee clubs will join the Trumpet Alliance in a few songs during the concert. Arts for Living is an affiliate organization of United Cerebral Palsy of San Luis Obispo County. The nonprofit engages persons with developmental disabilities in the community through inclusion in the visual and performing arts, developing skills for expansion of personal expression, group interaction, and other community connections.

The San Luis Obispo County Trumpet Alliance is part of Cuesta College Community Programs, which provides a comprehensive source for lifelong learning, vocational education, recreational opportunities, and cultural development.

For more information about the Trumpet Alliance spring concert, please contact Dr. Warren Balfour at wbalfour@mac.com or at (805) 550-1192. To find out more about Cuesta College Community Programs, please visit www.cuesta.edu/communityprograms or call (805) 546-3132.