19 WINTER TEXAN TIMES www.wintertexantimes.com MARCH 27, 2024 NOWAVAILABLE ONLINE www.WinterTexanTimes.com 2023 Park Directory Winter Texan TIMES Serving Winter Texans FromMission To South Padre Island Since 1987 Published By: 2023-2024 EDITION Winter Texan TIMES Serving Winter Texans FromMission To South Padre Island Since 1987 Published By: 2023-2024 Edition 2023 Rio Grande Valley Visitors Guide ing the concert on tour to Brownsville, Donna, and La Joya. And the benefits she gets out of playing for the ensemble. She says it has changed throughout the 43 years she has been a member. “Now as a senior citizen, there are so many benefits of playing an instrument in the group,” she said. “It promotes better breathing, cognitive health, and manual dexterity. Socially, it keeps me connected to people I would otherwise never meet.” Another long-timer, 41 years, is Marth Clow. She plays the oboe and keeps coming back because it is the only music outlet she has, and she has several friends in the band she doesn’t get to see otherwise. She enjoys the hard work everyone puts in to get ready for a concert and the satisfaction “that we made some beautiful music and possibly touched someone’s life in some way.” Her favorite concert was the Goodwill Tour the ensemble did in 2005. They played some really amazing and difficult music, she said, and had fun doing it. She enjoys the fact that she gets to escape everything for two hours a week. “And just enjoy learning the music and not have to think about anything stressful.” These two women are just part of what makes the McAllen Wind Ensemble great. The group is made up of retired band directors, current band teachers, high school students, college students, and lovers of music in general. Sometimes, this is the only place they have to play their beloved instrument – and they take the time to learn great music and perform a wonderful concert for you. The President of the Board of Directors, Roy Contreras, shares “We are so proud to perform our 50th anniversary concert. We build on the legacy of all of those musicians, volunteers, and supporters who have ensured our organization has been able to provide so many decades of music to the community.” The McAllen Wind Ensemble depends on the support of sponsors, the City of McAllen, and its patrons to continue to provide accessible community concerts. Currently, the McAllen Wind Ensemble has about 75 musicians from across the region ranging in age and professional background. Out of a love of music and a desire to improve the cultural offerings available in our community, they volunteer their time to rehearse once a week and perform regular concerts. Tickets start at $10, including fees, and can be purchased in-person at the McAllen Performing Arts Center Box Office or by calling 1-800-745-3000, or at www.ticketmaster.com (additional fees may apply). Reserved seating is available. Season tickets are available as well and offer reserved seating. There is a special buy one get one free for military veterans who present military ID at the box office. As a nonprofit organization sustained by the community’s support, the organization also seeks to partner with local businesses who wish to advertise or sponsor programs. For more information, please contact info@mcallenwindsemble.org. For more information, visit www. mcallenwindensemble.org and follow them Facebook and Instagram. MWE From pg. 2 cheapest cities to retire to in a report that was published a few years ago. Mission is the number one Winter Texan city in the state, McAllen is in the top ten of cheapest places to visit, and the Valley features most of the top ten Winter Texan cities in the state as well. Whatever you enjoy doing in the Rio Grande Valley – whether it is getting out to play golf, playing pickleball, sewing, woodworking, taking daily bike rides, or testing out your new remote-control car on the racetrack – tell your friends about it. Thanks again for coming. We will surely miss you this summer and look forward to your return in the fall. Have a wonderful summer with your family and friends. Until then…
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