Stories. Why do we tell them? Our stories, fact or fiction, draw connections to others. They inspire change and spark the imagination; they even cross cultures. Cuéntame un cuento (Tell me a story) is a performance rooted in storytelling. The performance features a bilingual, dramatic reading of the Mexican folktale La lagartija y el sol, or The Lizard and the Sun, narrated by Rodolfo Nieto and Regina Stroncek with music from MPLS (imPulse) and ComMUSICation, and dancing by KetzalCoatlicue (Precious mother earth).
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Friday, November 18, 7:30 PM
The Wellstone Center 179 Robie St E, St Paul, MN 55107 Admission: $15* *Children 12 and under are free. Free Parking Available Online sales have ended. Tickets will be available at the door! 
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Collaborating Artists
At home in the St. Paul Promise Neighborhood, ComMUSICation (CMC) was founded in 2013 as a choral youth-development program with a mission to "empower youth with life skills through music, service, and community.” Understanding that it takes a village to raise our children, CMC continues to be a highly collaborative organization, teaming up with artists such as the Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Boychoir, Singers in Accord, MPLS (imPulse) and various college and university ensembles.
ComMUSICation is inspired by the international cultural phenomenon El Sistema, and features two programs—ComMUSICation Choir and the Crescendo Training Choir. Artistic excellence is achieved by providing youth with a time-intensive musical experience that includes ensemble rehearsals, piano lessons and music & leadership classes. As a community resource, CMC accepts all students, absorbs all tuition costs, and provides dinner and homework help to all families in need. To learn more or get involved, please visit www.cmcmn.org.
ComMUSICation is inspired by the international cultural phenomenon El Sistema, and features two programs—ComMUSICation Choir and the Crescendo Training Choir. Artistic excellence is achieved by providing youth with a time-intensive musical experience that includes ensemble rehearsals, piano lessons and music & leadership classes. As a community resource, CMC accepts all students, absorbs all tuition costs, and provides dinner and homework help to all families in need. To learn more or get involved, please visit www.cmcmn.org.
Versatile singer and actor Rodolfo Nieto’s captivating presence and charismatic demeanor has been delighting and uniting audiences throughout the Twin Cities. Whether working on the professional stage, the recital hall, or in the schools, Rodolfo brings a sense of joy and passion to performance that engages and thrills his audience.
Rodolfo’s work ranges from opera and lyric theater to intimate recitals and straight theater. He is constantly exploring new works and innovative ways to bring stories, in whatever form, to audiences from all backgrounds. Most recently, Rodolfo has become involved with the Hispanic community by presenting a bilingual recital of Mexican music, a project which he plans to develop and continue. Through his performances audiences and professionals have come to love his deep, robust voice; engaging personality, and compassionate desire to bring audiences together through the power of music and storytelling.
Based in the thriving art culture of Minneapolis, Rodolfo has been a frequent singer with Minnesota Opera, and he has sung with Kenwood Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Concert Opera, Mankato Symphony Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, and Lakes Area Music Festival. Abroad he has worked with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble, Bel Canto at Caramoor, Manhattan Concert Productions, Distinguished Concerts International New York, Opera Colorado, Opera Santa Barbara, Chicago Opera Theater, and Cedar Rapids Opera Theater. New works that he has helped to workshop or premier are Silent Night and The Manchurian Candidate by Kevin Puts, Dinner at Eight by William Bolcom, and Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings by Eric Whitacre. To learn more about Rodolfo, visit rodolfo-nieto.com
Rodolfo’s work ranges from opera and lyric theater to intimate recitals and straight theater. He is constantly exploring new works and innovative ways to bring stories, in whatever form, to audiences from all backgrounds. Most recently, Rodolfo has become involved with the Hispanic community by presenting a bilingual recital of Mexican music, a project which he plans to develop and continue. Through his performances audiences and professionals have come to love his deep, robust voice; engaging personality, and compassionate desire to bring audiences together through the power of music and storytelling.
Based in the thriving art culture of Minneapolis, Rodolfo has been a frequent singer with Minnesota Opera, and he has sung with Kenwood Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Concert Opera, Mankato Symphony Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, and Lakes Area Music Festival. Abroad he has worked with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble, Bel Canto at Caramoor, Manhattan Concert Productions, Distinguished Concerts International New York, Opera Colorado, Opera Santa Barbara, Chicago Opera Theater, and Cedar Rapids Opera Theater. New works that he has helped to workshop or premier are Silent Night and The Manchurian Candidate by Kevin Puts, Dinner at Eight by William Bolcom, and Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings by Eric Whitacre. To learn more about Rodolfo, visit rodolfo-nieto.com
Regina Stroncek, soprano, is an active singer and language instructor in the Twin Cities. Graduating from the University of Minnesota with degrees in Vocal Performance and Spanish and Portuguese Studies, her interest lies in communicating with diverse audiences through language and music. Regina has been heard in concerts locally in Minnesota and abroad in Toledo and Barcelona, Spain. She is an avid recitalist, and through the use of live-streaming her recital performances have reached audiences in Brazil, Spain, and Germany. Regina sings in a variety of ensembles and collaborative settings in the Twin Cities, performing with groups such as MPLS-imPulse, the Minnesota Chorale, The First Readings Project, the Schola Cantorum of the Cathedral of St. Paul, and the MN Duo program through Source Song Festival. She additionally participated in the Barcelona Festival of Song, a festival promoting the performance of art song in Spanish, Portuguese, and Catalan.
Regina is a firm believer that cultural exchange and learning languages improve global understanding. Through story-telling, leading English conversation circles, and organizing community concerts, she engaged with a wide range of community members in Berlin, Germany and Toledo, Spain. Regina teaches Spanish Pre-K Immersion classes through Concordia Language Villages in Minnetonka, introducing 3-5 year-old students to various cultures in the Spanish-speaking world through lessons, games, and songs. Next year, Regina will travel to Brazil on a Fulbright grant to teach English, explore Brazilian vocal repertoire, and collaborate with musicians in her host community.
Regina is a firm believer that cultural exchange and learning languages improve global understanding. Through story-telling, leading English conversation circles, and organizing community concerts, she engaged with a wide range of community members in Berlin, Germany and Toledo, Spain. Regina teaches Spanish Pre-K Immersion classes through Concordia Language Villages in Minnetonka, introducing 3-5 year-old students to various cultures in the Spanish-speaking world through lessons, games, and songs. Next year, Regina will travel to Brazil on a Fulbright grant to teach English, explore Brazilian vocal repertoire, and collaborate with musicians in her host community.
KetzalCoatlicue (Precious mother earth) is a Kalpulli (learning community) of Indigenous people joined by the desire to learn, share and live the tradition of Aztec dance. KetzalCoatlicue is a woman lead group. They pursue their spiritual, mental, and physical vocation with music from the sacred drum, conch shells, seeds and other instruments gifted by the natural environment. A majority of their members are youth from south Minneapolis but participating members ages range from toddlers to elders. Their cultural learning center is located in South Minneapolis.
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