NocheUnidos, An Historic Concert and A Regional Success
Mariachi Cobre and the Venice Symphony sharing stage at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Friday, May 20.
NocheUnidos had been an idea for more than 10 years before it finally became a reality. The passion of our first Executive Director and current Board Chair Kelly Kirschner, the commitment of our supporters, and the hard work of our Dream Team, made this event possible. NocheUnidos brought our communities together, and we are looking forward to many more opportunities to continue doing so.
Visit unidosnow.org/nocheunidos to see more pictures.
Board Chair Kelly Kirschner’s Vision
“This has been an endeavor that the UnidosNow board has been discussing for nearly a decade thanks to Javier and Estela Curiel who introduced us to this type of concert when they took us to see the Orlando Philharmonic play with Mariachi Cobre.
The concert left us with goosebumps and chills not only for how amazing the combination of sounds were, but for the power of the artistic metaphor: that the immigrant experience is additive and makes our lives and communities and music richer by their presence.
Since then and as a celebrated community/region of the arts in Florida, we have wanted to bring this concert to Sarasota/Manatee, with the main event being in the Van Wezel.”
Mariachi Cobre mid-performance.
Board Member Kathy Schersten’s Experience
“What an amazing evening. The response to the Latino part of the program astonished even the Mariachi Señores. There was such an ambiente, a sense of pride, a release of emotions in the hall.
Our Board Chair Kelly Kirschner and Board Member CJ Czaia promised it would be unlike anything this community has ever seen, and it was. It will be the talk-of-the-town for a long, long time. Congratulations seems like a small word of praise here.
The faces in the audience, the ones with tears in their eyes, those singing along, the 'movers' dancing in their seats, and the non-Latinos fully engaged and clapping wildly, made the evening extra special.
The crowd yelled ‘OTRA, OTRA’ and the whole audience said ‘YES, YES.’
To all of us with one foot in each world—the Anglo and the Hispanic—this reminded us why we must support an event like NocheUnidos.”
Conductor Michelle Merrill.
The Voices of Our Families
“Phenomenal, stunning, wonderful, incredible, amazing. I just want to say thank you for the huge opportunity to let us be part of this historic moment that will forever be in our hearts.”
“Unforgettable and spectacular concert. (Inolvidable y espectacular concierto).”
“Thank you very much for the opportunity that was given to us last night. We are very grateful for being part of something as wonderful as UnidosNow. We loved it! All of it! All united making history and doing something incredible for the Latino community. (Muchísimas gracias por la oportunidad que se nos brindó anoche. Muy agradecidos por ser parte de algo tan maravilloso como UnidosNow. ¡Nos encanto! ¡Todo! Todos unidos haciendo historia y haciendo algo incredible por la comunidad latina).”
“Congratulations, UnidosNow: the atmosphere was tremendous. (Felicidades, UnidosNow: estuvo muy bueno el ambiente).”