The First Fine Arts Series is a venture that is dedicated to the idea that art is a gift from God, and that it should be cultivated and celebrated among the people. Concerts throughout the Series will bring together the community and the church to enjoy the gift of music. The spirit of bringing people together is in keeping with our purpose.

December 3rd

Catherine Dowd, French horn

Seth Nelson, piano

Horn player Catherine Dowd is an active performer and educator in the Central Texas area. She is currently acting as Second Horn of the San Antonio Philharmonic and performing regularly with the Mid Texas Symphony. As a solo artist, Catherine placed 3rd in the Premiere Soloist Competition at the International Horn Symposium in Ghent, Belgium, where she also performed as the Jon Hawkins Memorial Scholarship recipient. Other accolades include acceptances into the National Repertory Orchestra, Voksenåsen Summer Music Academy, Sarasota Summer Music Festival, Brevard Music Center Summer Institute and Festival, and Sewanee Summer Music Festival. Catherine studied with Denise Tryon and Elizabeth Freimuth at the University of Cincinnati of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and studied with Jonas Thoms at West Virginia University, where she was honored as a Presser Scholar. Previous teachers also include Dr. Margaret Tung, Mark Houghton, and Dr. Carrie D. Strickland.

December 10th

San Antonio Brass Band

Currently under the baton of Dr. Matthew Mireles (Chair of St. Mary’s University Dept. of Music) the San Antonio Brass Band (a British Style Brass Band) selects the finest brass musicians in South Texas by audition or invitation. Our members include professional musicians, university and public school instructors, freelance musicians as well as college students and amateurs. Each Spring, the band travels to compete against the finest brass bands of the United States and Canada at the North American Brass Band Championships. In 2018 the SABB was the first ever Texas band to compete as well as winning 1st Place in the First Section. The SABB performed for the 2018 International Trumpet Guild Convention and accompanied world renowned cornet artists, Philip Smith (NY Philharmonic ret.) and Tom Hutchinson (Cory Band of Great Britain). The San Antonio Brass Ensemble is an award winning ten piece brass ensemble composed of members from the San Antonio Brass Band. This ensemble has also competed at the NABBA brass ensemble competition placing 2nd in 2022 and 3rd in 2023.

December 17th

Mark Cruz, Classical guitar

Mark Anthony Cruz has been professor of guitar at Texas State Univerity since 1999. As a composer, Cruz has been published by Les Production d'Oz, Shawnee Press, Soundboard Magazine, Mel Bay and Clear Note Publications. He was the first prize-winner of the ACG composition competition in 2006, '07, ’08, ’10 and ‘17. He has received several commissions from guitar festivals, music supporting institutions, DMA students and private artists. As a performer, Cruz placed 1st in the 2022 Indiana Fingerstyle Competition and 1st in the 2013 Winfield International Fingerstyle Competition. He has been a feature artist at many Texas guitar festivals and events since 2008. As a clinician, Cruz was guest director for the 2023 Austin High School Region Guitar Ensemble Concert, the Oklahoma City Public Schools All-City Guitar Ensemble Concert and Nevada's Clark County School District All-City Guitar Ensemble Concert in ‘22. Mr. Cruz resides in San Marcos, Texas.

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