Celebrate 1st weekend of Hispanic Heritage Month with 3 Tri-Cities musical events

Two longstanding concert groups in Tri-Cities are kicking off their show season on the first weekend of Hispanic Heritage Month, featuring Hispanic artists and music.

Both the Mid-Columbia Mastersingers and Community Concerts of Tri-Cities are beginning their performance season in September, with the first shows this weekend.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a national celebration between September 15 and October 15. Its purpose is to pay “tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society,” according to the official site.

The first weekend of the celebration in Tri-Cities includes several concert options.

Mid-Columbia Mastersingers next shows

The Mid-Columbia Mastersingers are a choral performance group led by director Justin Raffa. The group has been a staple for music in Tri-Cities for decades, as it was originally founded in the ‘80s under a different name.

There are several groups under the Mastersingers umbrella, with a full list of participants available online. They perform a multitude of shows each year, mostly during a specified concert season, on a volunteer basis.

This year, the first performances are inspired by the Pasco-Colima Cooperation and Friendship Agreement.

Part of the Somos Pasco Economic Development Plan, the friendship agreement is like a sister city designation, aimed at connecting Pasco with a similar community in Mexico. This has led to multiple events and performances featuring groups from Colima.

Part of this program, the season-opener performance will feature guest vocalist Mariana Corona Delgado from the University of Colima. The Mastersingers and the guest soprano will perform Magnificat by Johann Sebastian Bach on September 20 at 7 p.m. and on September 21 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are available now for the concerts at St. Paul’s Church on 10th Ave. in Kennewick. Tickets cost $20, $30 or $40. Attendees are asked to pay what they can to support the concert’s costs. K-12 students can attend for free, and those who cannot purchase a ticket are still welcome at the show.

“Our aim is to offer concerts that are inclusive of anyone wishing to enjoy excellent choral music,” states the Mid-Columbia Mastersingers’ website.

The full season schedule is available online.

Community Concerts of Tri-Cities

Another well-established local group is the non-profit organization Community Concerts of the Tri-Cities. Since the 1940s, the nonprofit has put on a handful of shows in Tri-Cities every year, except during COVID-19 quarantines.

The 2024-25 season is the nonprofit’s 80-year anniversary and includes five concerts in the Richland High School auditorium, starting on Saturday, Sept. 21.

“What hasn’t changed in 80 years is the devotion of the organization’s volunteers, and the enthusiasm that audiences have for high quality, live entertainment,” says a news release from Community Concerts of Tri-Cities.

The season opener features Jarabe Mexicano, a five-piece band that plays Mexican folk, Latin rock, Reggae-Cumbia and more. Like every show, the concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Richland High auditorium.

Season membership gets you into all five shows, priced at $70 for adults and $35 for youth (or $20 when purchasing as a family), and is available for purchase online or by calling 509-547-6243. For single-show admission, tickets will be available at the door for $30 for adults and $15 for youth.

The full season schedule is available online.