Artwork designed by Lyn Johnson

March 5, 2010 and March 7, 2010

WORLD PREMIERE

HENRY MOLLICONE

Misa de los Inmigrantes

(MASS FOR THE IMMIGRANTS)

Featuring

San Jose Symphonic Choir, Leroy Kromm, Music Director

Santa Clara University Choir, Ryan Brandau, Director

Layna Chianakas, Mezzo Soprano, Soloist

Nova Jimenez, Narrator

Instrumental Ensemble

Leroy Kromm, Conductor

Friday, March 5, 2010, 7:30 PM

Mission Santa Clara, on the campus of Santa Clara University

500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053

For this performance only,  tickets, although free, must be reserved through SCU’s Center of Performing Arts box office.

Please call 408-554-4015

Sunday, March 7, 2010, 7:30 PM

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
81 North 2nd Street, San Jose, CA 95113

Admission is free; tickets do not need to be reserved for this performance.

Admission to both concerts: FREE

A portion of donations collected at each concert will go to charities that support people struggling with immigration problems.

Artwork designed by Lyn Johnson

The fabulous artwork by Lyn Johnson captures the essence of the complex message concerning immigration issues. The world-premier concert is set for the Santa Clara Mission on the campus of Santa Clara University, on Friday, March 5, 2010, at 7:30 PM

After nearly two years of collective scripture study, discernment, and dialogue, on Oct. 8 the National Association of Evangelicals spoke publicly for the first time in support of immigration reform. The resolution passed with no dissent from the 40 denominations that comprise the NAE. This is a monumental step, and I commend NAE president Leith Anderson for his boldness in taking this issue to the leaders of the NAE and to leaders in Congress.

You know the wind has shifted in Congress when moderate and conservative evangelical leaders testify before the U.S. Senate in support of an earned pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Such a hearing would not have taken place in the climate of the last legislative debate. I believe the NAE statement reflects a different tone in Washington and in the U.S. with respect to immigration reform. Church leaders who have been personally and privately supportive of immigrants and their struggles have now publicly declared that it is morally wrong to keep families apart, and that it is morally right to fix the broken system so that immigrants are treated with respect and mercy.  [Read MORE . . .]

(Thanks to Charlotte Pizzo for the reference)

IMMIGRATION REFORM
“Loving our brothers and sisters – all of them – represents the core of our moral calling. We recognize that the immigration debate is complex and requires a more just and compassionate approach. We also recognize that the immigration debate has revealed some of our society’s most frightful, underlying racial prejudices and divisions. Therefore, standing with the least of these, the Matthew 25 Network will participate in this debate by actively voicing the immigrants’ untold stories, in order to dispel the myths with moral clarity.

Matthew 25:40

“We must seek not only a just but also a humane solution to the immigration debate. Tearing parents from their children, husbands from their wives, and grandparents from their caregivers is wrong and unconscionable. We decry the practice of immigration raids. We believe the practice of coyote running and human trafficking to be profoundly immoral and in drastic need of attention by our law enforcement agencies. Bans on any assistance to undocumented immigrants are inhumane; acts of Good Samaritans often saves the lives of those desiring to enter our country. All persons – regardless of their immigration status – deserve access to basic human services of shelter, sustenance, and access to holistic care.

“Too often members of our society forget that immigrants also come from a family, a church, a community. They too deserve to be treated with basic human dignity and respect. Both our policy and ensuing debates need to reflect this.

“See our blog posts on immigration reform and join in on the discussion.”

Rigo Chacon

Rigo Chacon, a long-time internationally famous icon in the news of San Francisco Bay Area, was scheduled to speak at the April 24, 2009 fundraiser to support “Misa de los Inmigrantes” by Henry Mollicone; however, personal illness kept him away. With his personal immigration story leading the evening, and especially with his powerful charisma and charm, Rigo was missed. Unfortuantely, life happens. Rigo Chacon has accolades spanning decades of excellence.

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists recognizes Rigo’s induction into its Hall of Fame, in May of 2007, “Chacón capped off his three Emmy wins with a lifetime achievement Emmy in 2003. His received his first Emmy as a producer at KNTV-TV (San Jose). Then in 1985, he won for excellence in general news reporting which included coverage of the Mexico City earthquake and his tribute to four friends whose names are on the Vietnam Memorial. Chacón was with KGO-TV for 29 years, first joining in 1974 as a general assignment reporter. Chacón, who is now president of Rigo Chacón and Associates (RCA), founded Abrazos and Books in 1990 to help children around the world who are challenged by disability, poverty or who are victims of natural catastrophes.

“Chacón’s work has brought him accolades from a variety of groups. The Mexican government gave him its Ohtli Award for native sons and daughters of Mexico or their descendants who have excelled on foreign soil. The San Francisco and San Jose chapters of the National Latino Peace Officers Association conferred on Chacón the rare Honorary Peace Officer status. In giving Chacón the coveted Tomas Rivera Leadership award, the National Hispanic University commended him for embracing diversity as a way of life rather than a goal.”

Abrasos and Books, the foundation he founded in 1990 to support scholarship in children reports, “The fifth of ten children, Rigo moved with his family from the small community of Janos, Chihuahua, Mexico to El Paso, Texas when he was eight. Farm work in Santa Clara Valley beckoned the Chacón family to California where Rigo, his parents and his siblings worked in many of the area’s orchards and fields.

“Rigo attended San Jose High School and served as student body president in addition to his involvement in oratorical competition. During Rigo’s term as junior class president at San Jose High School, Santa Clara County’s Optimist Clubs named Rigo the Youth of the Year. He later attended San Jose State University before pursuing his broadcast career. Throughout his career, Rigo has been one of the most frequently requested speaker or master of ceremonies in the Bay Area. Fluent in two languages, Rigo’s Spanish language presentation “El Brindis del Bohemio” is an example of his oratorical skills in either language.

“Rigo lives in San Jose with his wife and young son. Three adult sons also live in San Jose.”

[Editor's note: Under the Fair Use Doctrine, selected portions of material are reproduced here with acknowleding links back to the original posts.]

Collaboration: Henry & Leroy
They have known each other for well over 2 decades, each thinks very highly of the other.

Mutual Genius Admiration Society
Most of us mere mortals on the sidelines wryly shake our heads over the musical genius that Henry Mollicone and Leroy Kromm bring to music. For starters, they both play the piano at a level light-years beyond most. Each can and does play snippets of songs, arias, anthems, choruses, at a whim, and can transpose anything written to practically any key desired. Both are at the top of their peers in musical ability and creative expression.

Henry’s strengths are in musical line, melodies that are memorable, incredibly variable tempi, rhythms, dynamics, and he writes with complexity that explores his subject in unique and exciting ways. In short: he is an excellent contemporary composer.  His expertise is never narrow; he writes anthems, gospels, light and serious pieces, operas, musical theater, as well as major choral and orchestral works. His “Beatitude Mass” to benefit the homeless brought out the emotional connections with all of us considering those who have lost their place to live and are on the streets. He genuinely cares about his subject. In his selfless approach, he has bequeathed the “Beatitude Mass” to perpetual fund raising for the homeless, and hopes to arrive at a similar result with “Misa de los Inmigrantes.” What an incredible man he is.

On the other hand, another musical genius steps up. Maestro Leroy Kromm can pull the interpretive nuances needed from a group of really good singers who then produce a magnificent performance beyond their combined skills. The sum is greater than its parts when he holds the baton. Because he understands how to work with and train singers, each rehearsal becomes a group voice lesson. His choirs, especially the San Jose Symphonic Choir, are ardent, loyal fans. He directs a full orchestra equally fluently, and is able to explain to all instrumentalists how and when to lift, pause, accelerate, work in a bit of a rubato, or whatever Leroy hears in his mind.  His interpretive skills are profound. Genius.

The world had better brace itself, because these two musically gifted geniuses, who by the way are both self-effacing and genuinely nice men, are collaborating again. Put it on the calendar. When these two titantic musical forces combine, a very special musical performance is the natural outcome. March, 2010. Hopefully, there will be multiple venues and concerts, since they will surely sell out everywhere “Misa de los Inmigrantes” is performed.

(Of course, both men will be aghast at these descriptions of themselves. They are modest, self-assuming, centered, grounded, genuine human beings. But ask their thousands of fans, and you get the picture!)

Misa de los Inmigrantes by Henry Mollicone

LULAC Shield

A Nation of Immigrants
by League of United Latin American Citizens [LULAC]

“Throughout our country’s history, immigrants have contributed immensely to our culture, our economy, our defense and our national pride. Almost all citizens of the United States are immigrants or the descendants of immigrants and each new generation of immigrants has reinvigorated our nation with the values and work ethic that has made America great. Our common experience has demonstrated that immigration is good for America, whether your ancestors arrived before the Declaration of Independence or just a generation ago. LULAC calls upon Congress and the President to embrace and uphold America’s tradition as a nation of immigrants and pass comprehensive immigration reform that allows hard working immigrants and their families to become permanent legal residents of the United States.”

This snippet of a larger article is in keeping to Fair Use Doctine; to learn more, please visit LULAC at http://www.lulac.org/

AAD Project at USCB

Are undocumented workers taking jobs away from U.S. citizens?
by AAD (Affirmative Action and Diversity) Project of UCSB.EDU
[Editor: Research-based information is collected for supplying quantitive and qualitative data around the issue of immigration. Fair-use excerpts are posted here with links for further investigation.]

“While some portion of the undocumented immigrant workforce receives jobs that would otherwise be filled by citizens and documented non-citizens, undocumented workers also create jobs by their presence as consumers in the U.S. It has been difficult for economists to weigh out the various factors, but one of the most obvious indicators, the unemployment rate, does not correlate with key changes in immigration.

“In fact, the unemployment rate over the last 25 years has moved in cycles that demonstrate a comparatively lower unemployment rate during the most recent (2000-2005) infux of undocumented workers. (Source: Misery Index)”

“For a recent summary of the economic complexities, please see:
“Immigration Debate Crux: Jobs Impact,” by Ron Scherer (The Christian Science Monitor)”