Posted on Feb 3, 2004

On Friday, Feburary 13th, the New World Baroque Orchestra under the direction of John Warren, has been invited to perform at Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa for the Annual Conference of the California Mission Studies Association. The opening ceremony for this annual weekend event will begin at 7:00 P.M. in the Mission church and will include an informance by Dr. Craig Russell, reflecting the history of the music of the early California Missions, followed by the musical program. The public is cordially invited to attend and tickets may be pre-purchased at the Mission gift shop for $10 and at the door prior to the concert for $15. After covering basic operating expenses, the profits earned from the proceeds for this event will be donated to the restoration program of Mission San Miguel Arcangel, severely damaged in the local earthquake of last December. The program will feature a unique selection of rare and authentic music from church archives and other historical music sources, reflecting the daily musical life of the early California Missions. The program will open with a colorful processional pageant featuring the flags and anthems of old Spanish-California performed by the soloists and musicians of the New World Baroque Orchestra, who will be joined for this gala event by members of the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Choir, directed by Maria Gerber. Also featured, will be a special presentation in costume of two traditional songs by the children and adults of the local Salinan Native-American Tribe. A special highlight of the evening will be the guest appearance of talented musician, educator and international recording artist, Jesús Saiz-Huedo performing selections for guitar popular during the early Spanish-Colonial Mission era from the old and new worlds. Primary and secondary school teachers and students are especially encouraged to attend this historical event. For more information, please call 462-2410 or 239-3022, or visit the orchestra website at .www.newworldbaroque.org.