Sones de Mexico 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Awards 2024 – Chicago, IL

Help us celebrate 30 years of championing Mexican culture. Join us on our Gala Dinner. All event attendees will be treated to an evening of music, food and celebration while raising funds for a good cause. Stimulate all your senses and help us carry on our mission for many more years.

WHAT’S IN THE PROGRAM?

MUSIC—live music with Sones de Mexico Ensemble, a two-time GRAMMY nominated ensemble, founded in Chicago’s Pilsen neigborhood in 1994, that has evolved into the World-class non-profit organization we are celebrating today. The repertoire for this evening is titled A Music Geography of Mexico. It will sample distict folk music styles from different regions of Mexico performed on unique instruments from their extensive collection.

FOOD—premium drinks and a five-course gourmet dinner prepared before your eyes by Chef Dudley Nieto. He is a graduate of the renowned Le Cordon Bleu culinary arts school, hails from Puebla, Mexico and is a long-time friend of the Ensemble. He will prepare a special, five course regional Mexican dinner pairing each dish and drink with the regional music styles performed by the band.

AWARDS—the “Keepers of Culture Awards” ceremony will recognize two outstanding individuals: Cesáreo Moreno, Visual Arts Director of the National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA) since 1995, for his lifelong commitment to supporting Mexican arts and artists. And Maya Zazhil Fernández, co-founder of 18 Street Casa de Cultura, for her leadership in support of Mexican arts and artists.

SILENT AUCTION—We have chosen a few items that resonate with our mission, including unique folk musical instruments, textiles, and crafts, gourmet tasting experiences, books, and more. For those of you unable to attend or wishing to bid early, you can preview items and place your bids through BiddingOwl. Items continue to be added all the time. Gala attendees will have the advantage of a final bid. If you win the bid, we will mail the items you won to you. If you wish to donate an item for our auction or if you have any questions, please contact our director Juan Dies at (773) 354-7663 or write to juan@sonesdemexico.com

Sones de México Ensemble is a not-for-profit organization under section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. All donations above the retail value of the items received in exchange are tax-deductible to the extent provided under U.S. tax law.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

WHAT IS THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT MISSION OF SONES DE MEXICO ENSEMBLE?

The mission of Sones de México Ensemble is to promote greater appreciation of Mexican folk and traditional music and culture through innovative performance, education, and dissemination.

WHY GIVE?

For 30 years, most of Sones de Mexico Ensemble’s quality programming has been free and open to the public. For the past 10 years, Sones de Mexico has operated The Mexican Music School, a weekly, tuition-based, Spanish-language music and culture Saturday school for children and adults in Pilsen, Rogers Park and online. Several of them receive scholarships funded by peple like you. Every year hundreds of school children are exposed to the music and culture of Mexico in festivals and assemblies. The content is accessible to all audiences across linguistic, ethnic, economic, and age barriers. Sones de Mexico covers a wide territory traveling to communities across the nation to aproximately 10 states each year. Help us keep this tradition alive and growing. Our gala dinner will celebrate the creativity and excellence you have come to expect from us.

ARE MY TICKETS AND DONATIONS TAX DEDUCTIBLE?

Yes. Sones de México Ensemble is a not-for-profit organization under section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. All donations above the retail value of the items received in exchange are tax deductible to the extent provided under U.S. tax law. Gala tickets are deductible in the amount exceeding the fair market value of the dinner (i.e. $40).

Sones de Mexico Ensemble is supported in part by grants from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the MacArthur Funds for Arts & Culture at the Field Foundation, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Excfellerator Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the generosity of individual donors like you.

WHAT IS THE PARKING SITUATION AT THIS EVENT?

There will be no valet parking available at this event. The Museum now has a parking lot, and there is free, street parking is available along the perimeter of Harrison Park. We also recommend the convenience of using CTA or ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft.

HOW CAN I CONTACT THE ORGANIZER WITH QUESTIONS?

Call Juan Díes, Executive Director at (773) 354-7663.