The 8th annual Latin American Music Festival at TCU will kick off Thursday in Ed Landreth Auditorium at 7 p.m. According to the festival’s website, the week-long festival has been hosted every two years since 1998 and is presented by the TCU School of Music.

Liz Branch, assistant director for international student services and festival coordinator, said her mission was to make Latin American music and artists  known to the American public.

During each festival, TCU brings in different musicians and composers. This year, the festival will be introducing artists from Chile, Colombia, Peru, Puerto Rico and others.

Christian Standridge, a sophomore cello major , said he was looking forward to seeing music other than classical and band music played on stage. 

“There is such a large American population here, so it will be kind of nice for people to get a taste of other cultures,” Standridge said.

He said he hopes the public will gain appreciation for other country’s music and an interest in it as well.

Branch said attendees will find themselves surprised that the festival will host classical music sung by sopranos and orchestras.

According to the festival’s website, “beyond TCU, the festival has engaged other educational and cultural institutions in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including the Fort Worth ISD, from which more than 6,000 students have been invited to attend rehearsals, performances and master classes designed especially for their age and school level.”

Branch said the festival was started by Germán Gutiérrez, professor of music, director of orchestral studies and the director of the Center for Latin American Music Studies, in 1998.  Gutiérrez’s goal was to bring Latin American music to an American audience.

Performances by the TCU Symphony Orchestra, Patricia Caicedo, Ivan Petruziello, Guafa Trio and the TCU Cello Ensemble will be Thursday. The TCU Wind Symphony and trombonist Luis Fred will perform in Ed Landreth Auditorium Friday with Guafa Trio, Salsa dancing, an outdoor fiesta  and salsa, and Questa Terra World Festival in the Campus Commons.

For more information about the list of artists performing and admission ticket prices, visit Latin American Music Festival at TCU’s website.

TCU Symphony Orchestra, Patricia Caicedo, Guafa Trio, TCU Cello Ensemble
When: 7 p.m. Thursday Sept. 29
Where: Ed Landreth Auditorium

TCU Wind Symphony, Luis Fred, James Stephenson
When: 7 p.m. Friday Sept. 30
Where: Ed Landreth Auditorium

Guafa Trio, Salsa Dancing, Outdoor Fiesta & Salsa, Questa Terra World Festival
When: 8:30 p.m. Friday Sept. 30
Where: Campus Commons

Luis Orlandini, Guitar recital
When: 7 p.m. Monday Oct. 3
Where: PepsiCo Recital Hall

Admission for each event is free for all TCU ID holders.