Community Music Center Awarded $2,000 Grant from Autodesk, Inc.

Community Music Center (CMC), a non-profit music school and performance space with a 90-year history in San Francisco, was awarded a grant of $2,000 from Autodesk, Inc., a world leader in 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software.

The grant will support CMC’s production of “La Posarela,” an original Mexican Christmas musical, and other community programs. Now in its fifth year, “La Posarela” blends the Mexican traditions of posadas and pastorelas with a healthy dose of humor and social commentary. The performance follows Mary and Joseph on their journey to Bethlehem in search of posada (Spanish for shelter). A mischievous devil attempts to mislead them, two angels intervene and a fight between good and evil ensues.

Original Latin music and Christmas carols sung in Spanish and English accompany the show. Its cast of over 80 performers includes members of CMC’s Latin Vocal Workshop, Mission District Young Musicians Program, Coro del Pueblo, and Children’s Chorus. “La Posarela” is produced and directed by Martha Rodríguez-Salazar with musical direction by Chus Alonso. All performances are free and open to the public.

Performance information

Friday, December 9, 7pm:
Community Music Center’s Mission District Branch
544 Capp Street, San Francisco

Saturday, December 10, 2pm:
Veterans Memorial Senior Center Theater
1455 Madison Avenue, Redwood City

Sunday, December 11, 2pm:
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts
2868 Mission Street, San Francisco

Video clips and interviews from “La Posarela” 2010

About Community Music Center
Community Music Center is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization founded in 1921 with the mission of making high quality music accessible to all people, regardless of their financial status. CMC is the Bay Area’s oldest community arts organization and San Francisco’s largest provider of free and low-cost music classes and concerts. During the 2010-11 school year, 2,420 students of all ages, ethnicities and income levels enrolled in CMC programs and over 18,500 people enjoyed musical performances at no or low cost. Learn more at www.sfcmc.org.

About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc., is a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software. Customers across the manufacturing, architecture, building, construction, and media and entertainment industries — including the last 16 Academy Award winners for Best Visual Effects — use Autodesk software to design, visualize and simulate their ideas. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk continues to develop the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art software for global markets. For additional information about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com.

###