Las Cruces musician Lisa Van Winkle, along with several friends, will present an Inaugural Concert at the Rio Grande Theatre, on September 19, to help launch Mesilla Valley Musical Arts.

Join Lisa and a line-up of outstanding local musicians, including Ben Loeb, Laroy Borchert and NMSU Faculty Quartet-in-Residence, La Catrina Quartet, as they play music running the gamut from much-loved classical repertoire to wild and wacky numbers. Musical selections for the evening will include works by Francis Poulenc, W.A. Mozart, Camille Saint-Saens, Ian Clark, Naji Hakim and a Venezuelan Joropo by Marcos Granados which will feature “a plethora of percussionists” live on stage! The festivities begin at 3pm on September 19, 2010.

The brainchild of pianist and musical educator Barbara Toth, Mesilla Valley Musical Arts is dedicated to providing a variety of high-quality musical performances to the community, particularly the under-served, and making innovative music education options available in Las Cruces and beyond. “There’s a unique richness that music brings to our lives,” says Toth. “Not just to the lives of some, but for all. Not just certain types of music, but any and all styles of musical expression. My personal dream, and that on which this organization is founded, is to broaden the influence and enhance the impact of musical offerings here in our community.”

The Rio Grande Theatre is located at 211 N. Downtown Mall, in Las Cruces. Showtime is 3pm, doors open at 2:30pm. Tickets are $15. Proceeds will benefit Mesilla Valley Musical Arts.  A complimentary champagne reception will follow the concert. For more information or to make reservations, call (575) 523-6403 or visit www.riograndetheatre.com