SANGER – A first-ever fundraising concert later this month, featuring a well-known Latin music group from Southern California, will raise money to benefit the Sanger SAM Academy program for science, art and music.
The inaugural Noche de Luna Gala is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 25, at the Set Free Church, located at 615 Academy Ave. in Sanger. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., with the concert to follow.
Headlining the musical talent is Ellas, a musical trio of women from Los Angeles who has been nominated for a Latin Grammy Award and features Fresno native Melinda Salcido, Nelly Cortez and Suemy Gonzalez. The group mixes traditional mariachi music with classic romantic trio, jazz, country and other styles.
Jerry Valadez, founder and chief executive officer for the 501-c3 nonprofit Sanger SAM Academy, said Ellas is donating its performance along with two other acts; Private Tours out of Fresno and the SAM Academy-based Noche De Luna House Band featuring Stephanie Galicia.
“They’re very popular in Southern California,” Valdez said of Ellas. “We’re very lucky to get these three in one day.”
The Latin-themed dinner show concert fits in line with the academy’s running of the Mariachi-Folklorico musical program in the area. The Noche de Luna House Band consists of instructors with the academy.
Valadez said the Set Free Venue should be able to hold as many as 160 people with its round tables set up and other seating. He hopes the musical show becomes established as an annual event, and will be one of the select fundraisers for the nonprofit.
Tickets are priced at $150 per person for VIP seating, $100 per person for premium seating and $75 per person for black & gold seating. Tables also can be purchased for groups.
For ticket information or more details on the show, call Sanger SAM Academy at 559-399-3090 (weekdays 3 to 8 p.m.), or tickets can be ordered by scanning the QR code listed on a flier on the academy’s Facebook page.
