ARTS: TAMIU presents first-ever International Fine Arts Festival
By J.P. Contreras
Bridge Staff Writer
Published Friday, Oct. 23, 2026
The first-ever International Fine Arts Festival celebrated the works of the Laredo community and its rich history. Texas A&M International University showed its appreciation for the local art scene by hosting events on Oct. 2 to 3 at the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts.
From left, director of Grupo Folklorico Renacimiento Cultural, Alvaro Guel, director of Ballet Folklorico, Ruben Hinojosa III and director of Martin High School Ballet Folklorico, Juan Carlos Flores, receive applause at the end of the Ballet Folklorico event in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts on Oct. 3, 2026.
Created by Interim Chair of the Department of the Fine and Performing Arts Friedrich “Fritz” Gechter from an initial idea by Assistant Professor of piano Tatiana Gorbunova, the event promoted diversity of the arts. The different showcases represented the artistic traditions of the community in music, visual and dance arts. Gechter also serves as an associate professor of music and piano.
“The idea is to showcase Laredo talent, TAMIU faculty, students, alumni … And also the festival invites outside talent,” Gechter said. “That’s the whole point, is to play and share our talents with everybody.”
On Friday, Oct. 2, the art gallery opened. A music and dance concert followed, officially kicking off the weekend ceremonies. The events were mostly free and open to the public. There was a separate ticket for the TAMIU Ballet Folklorico performance.
Instituto Cultural Mexicano de Laredo Grupo Folklorico “Adolscentes” performs during the International Fine Arts Festival in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts on Oct. 3, 2026.
The festival began at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, and continued until 5 p.m. During that time, musicians from TAMIU and outside visitors performed recitals. These were broken into groups, with time in between for a series of lectures regarding the origins and use of musical instruments.
Performers chose music that reflected the diversity of the region as well as from around the world. The event combined different artforms to create a broader picture of TAMIU. Recitals featured different instruments, from piano to trumpet to guitar, with some incorporating dance.
Alex Strader, a clarinet instructor from the Royal Music Academy, played a musical piece called the Rainbow Concerto. Then he performed a duet with flutist Jessica Wu. Afterward, he gave a lecture on the history, construction and performance practice of the Sheng, a Chinese mouth organ made of bamboo.
Texas A&M International Festival week showcases a performance featuring Mary Grace Galván-Carroll, pianist, accompanied by Assistant Professor of Terrance Johnson, Dancer on Oct. 3rd in the FPA Recital Hall.
Patsy Vara, a Laredo piano teacher, incorporated film scores from Cinema Paradiso and Summer in her performance. The series concluded with a recital by SungEun Park and Giyong Ahn. First they played on the same piano, in primo and secondo style, then they played separate instruments.
The event offered various activities available to anyone for hands-on participation. Outside the art gallery, where an exhibit was being held, the organizers spread the community mural painting. In the foyer of the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Theater, Associate Professor of art Jesse Shaw led a printmaking session.
Gechter said the event was originally pitched by Gorbunova with a particular focus on music. He later came up with the idea of bringing in other disciplines and making it more of a celebration. The festival includes multiple different forms of expression: the community mural, song and dance.
The Ballet Folklorico began at 6:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Theater. Tickets were $10. Ballet Folklorico Director Nayeli Lopez began the ceremony with a speech. She thanked the people involved, the dancers, the organizers, their families and friends.
Texas A&M International Festival week showcases guitarist Carlos Morales in the FPA Recital Hall on Oct. 3, 2026.
“I’ve been leading the group for 10 years and it’s been amazing,” Lopez began. “I hope to be here for as long as I can. It is my passion to teach Mexican folkloric dance. Not just for Laredo, but for the entire community. Because our Mexican culture matters, our traditions matter, our costumbres matter.”
The ballet featured dancers in traditional Mexican dress performing for the audience. They danced for several movements to various traditional songs. The show brought together community groups, as well as individual schools from elementary, middle and high schools. They also included colorful visuals in their performances.
The ceremony concluded with a speech from Gechter thanking the participants and the audience for attending. This officially marked the end of the festivities.
“We’re very excited to be able to put a focus on this,” Gechter said. “If you didn’t get to see the music performances or take part in the arts sessions, then we’ll do this again next year.”
