Las Cantantes is a small concert choir group with big dreams.
The all-women group is one of four UNM concert choirs. Las Cantantes will perform Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral Church of St. John, 318 Silver Ave. S.W.
The Cantantes recently released a Christmas CD, My Dancing Day, and plan to record another CD this coming fall, said Darci Lobdell, UNM student and Las Cantantes member.
Artistic director Maxine Thevenot, who holds a doctorate in organ performance, said that most of the proceeds from CD sales will go toward the group's trip to New York City. The singers will perform at four venues in five days, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Before coming to UNM, Thevenot taught an all-girls choir in New York, similar to Las Cantantes.
"That experience really set me on fire to want to do the same thing for Las Cantantes - to give them the opportunities that may not be available for them in New Mexico," she said.
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Women can be members of Las Cantantes for only four semesters, but Friday's performance will be a culmination of a year's practice for some, Thevenot said.
She said that Friday will also be an excellent preview of the tour and upcoming CD.
"Watching and listening to them perform and hearing how beautiful they sound is truly an amazing experience," Thevenot said.
Lobdell said that Friday's performance will help the group practice for the New York trip.
"Friday will be a good way for us to get ready for the pieces we will perform in New York and for our upcoming recording," she said.
Thevenot said she will play the pipe organ in three of the pieces on Friday. She also plays piano on a gospel piece. The rest of the songs will be a cappella.
"The venue where we're going to be singing - the Cathedral of St. John - houses the largest pipe organ in New Mexico," she said. "One of the pieces they're singing is called 'Wind Song.' This particular piece uses words from about 12 different languages that describe different kinds of wind."
Thevenot said Las Cantantes strive for a diverse and fun set of songs when performing.
"They're doing a real variety of stuff within a small amount of time on Friday," she said.
The group will sing about 30 minutes of music including the pieces "My God is a Rock," "Dream a Little Dream," and a group gem - "Magnificat."
"My favorite piece is 'Magnificat' by Nicolas White because he is a newer composer. It's a good piece for our choir, and it's fun to sing," Lobdell said. "Pretty much all of our music is fun."
Thevenot said the members of Las Cantantes practice twice a week for three hours and perform about six times per semester.
She said participating in the concert choir gives music majors academic credit.
Las Cantantes
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Cathedral Church of St. John
318 Silver Ave. S.W.
