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Voz Vaqueros’ 2019 Christmas Concert begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2900 Elks Drive.
There is no charge to attend.
Performances will include "White Christmas," "Silent Night,” “Carol of the Bells,” “The March of the Wise Men,” “I Heard the Bells,” “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” “The Lord Bless You and Keep You,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and “Postlude,” featuring Christmas carols performed by Vos Vaqueros’ longtime piano accompanist, Bonnie Schurtz. A performance of “Winter Wonderland” will feature Jessica Sletten on clarinet and Ted “Tiny” Powers on guitar. Jessica is the daughter of Eric Sletten, Voz Vaqueros conductor and music director
Voz Vaqueros, known as “The Singing Men of Las Cruces,” seeks new members. Just be at least 16 years old and want to sing in an all men’s singing group. No auditions are required and there are no dues. For more information on joining, contact Bob Hulsman, board president, at 575-520-0447 and rnlhlsmn@q.com, and Haney Pearson, board vice president, 575-522-1934 and haneypearson@gmail.com.
Voz Vaqueros rehearsals are 7-9 p.m. Mondays at Village at Northrise, 2880 N. Roadrunner Parkway.
Voz Vaqueros was founded by George Jarden in 1971, performing its first concert on Jan. 13 of that year at the Elks Club Lodge on Elks Drive in Las Cruces. The group, which currently has 17 members, will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2021.
Conductor Eric Sletten joined the group in 1989 at age 14. He was the youngest member then and is still the group’s youngest member today, Sletten said. Baritone Al Nuñez is the last remaining charter member of Voz Vaqueros, but newest member Michael Gomez is the son of original member Tony Gomez. The group has performed nearly 600 times over the years, including 123 Christmas concerts to date, along with 25 Easter services and other concerts.
Voz Vaqueros created “Las Cruces,” the city’s “unofficial official” song, in 1972, performed at several bicentennial shows around the state in 1976, was named the official southern New Mexico chorus in celebrating the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution in 1987, performed at the International Choral Festival in Germany in 1991, performed its first Independence Day concert at Young park in 2004 and began performing at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum’s “Cowboy Days” in 2015.
Call 575-524-2243, visit www.facebook.com/VVofLasCruces.
