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Arts & Entertainment

Alumni group Ragazzi Continuo presents "Canciones Continuo"

SAN MATEO, CA (March 6, 2011) —Ragazzi Continuo, a men’s choir for graduates of the acclaimed Ragazzi Boys Chorus organization, presents a delectable feast of Spanish and Latin American music with CANCIONES CONTINUO.  The vibrant concert, which will also include music arranged by members of Continuo, will play in two locations: 7:00pm Saturday, March 31, 2012 at Christ Church (770 North El Camino Real) in San Mateo and 4:00pm Sunday, April 1, 2012 at the All Saints Episcopal Church (555 Waverly Street) in Palo Alto.  For tickets ($18-$20) and more information, please visit www.RagazziContinuo.org or call (650) 342-8785.

A tour of Spain and Latin America, CANCIONES CONTINUO will include a classic mariachi tune, a haunting Venezuelan poem, a Brazilian prayer, a Medieval chant and its Renaissance setting by a Spanish composer, a satire from Chile, and more. Featured prominently are two selections brought back to the States from Ragazzi's most recent tour to Cuba, which included two Continuo members. Continuo audiences will also have their first listen to music arranged by members of the group, for the group. Baritone Jeremy Ragent has created a vocal-jazz inspired arrangement of "Bésame Mucho," and Musical Director Jesse Buddington has arranged "Mes De Mayo" for a soloist and an a cappella “band,” including a vocal string quartet, horns, guitars, and a full percussion section.

Continuo was founded in 2010 by seven alumni of the Ragazzi Boys Chorus. After years spent together in hours of rehearsals and performances, recording CDs, and tours around the globe, the group aims to achieve an elite level of musicianship across a broad array of musical disciplines, including the older Renaissance, Baroque, Gregorian Chant, and Romantic styles, as well as more modern selections from barbershop, folk, gospel, and the American spiritual. With well over a century of combined musical experience, the eight current members of Continuo perform a wide variety of music throughout the year for both private and public audiences.  Working with their Artistic Advisor and Ragazzi's Artistic Director Joyce Keil and a Member-Director, Continuo works collaboratively to develop its program each season to highlight the joy and passion each member brings to this endeavor.

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Members of Continuo have attended college at Harvard University, Claremont McKenna College, UCLA, Hamilton College and UC Santa Cruz and worked with numerous professional organizations including the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Symphony, Santa Clara Chorale, San Jose-Cleveland Ballet, and Masterworks Chorale.

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