-John Paul Baptiste
Executive Director, Texas Commission on the Arts

The Texas Commission on the Arts was deeply honored by your performance and participation in the July 29th and 30th, 1995-96 Artist in Education Orientation Conference at the Driskill Hotel.  We would like to extend our thanks to you for your extraordinary performance.  Your powerfully moving stories and musical pictures were repeatedly cited as a high point of the conference.  We genuinely appreciate your commitment to advance quality education in Texas.

Thank you for sharing in this public celebration of arts education.  The voice and caring you have evidenced will serve to promote new awareness and broadened opportunities for all Texans and the communities they live.

Again, thank you; we value your time and the lifelong commitment you bring to the work.

-Ginger Head
Executive Director, Imagination Celebration

-Marie Lord
Programs Coordinator, Imagination Celebration

To Whom It May Concern,

The duo of Abel Rocha and Madeleine Sosin, Correo Aéreo, performed in Fort Worth on November 9, 1993, for Imagination Celebration Fort Worth.  They performed for two schools, McLean Middle School and Natha Howell Elementary.

The performance for McLean Middle School was in a large auditorium for the entire student body of 900.  The emphasis for the performance was on multi-culturalism.  They chose selections that illustrated the blending of cultures that comprises Latin American music and beautifully explained the background of each piece.  As the student body was ethnically mixed a common bond was made apparent through this unique presentation; the music enabled this diverse group of young people to see a reflection of themselves in what before many identified only as "Hispanic" music.  The effect was moving.

The performance at Natha Howell Elementary was in conjunction with a special fourth grade science course on the environment and the rain forest.  We had asked Correo Aéreo to illustrate to these young children through their music Latin American songs that emphasize man's love of the earth and again the common spirit that connects all men.  They requested curriculum materials in advance of the performance in order to specifically develop their program to fit what the children had been studying.  The selection of music presented accomplished this goal and more.

Correo Aéreo are extremely gifted artistically with a range of performance skills that can appeal to any age of audience.  Their music is of exceptional quality, and the variety of instruments that they have mastery over is incredible.  Their blend of voices is a phenomenal match—at times they sound as one while at other times offering a rich and stimulating harmony.  Correo Aéreo are those rare individuals that not only have a precious and gifted talent, but know how to communicate their art to audiences as inspiring teachers.  We are looking forward to having Correo Aéreo be a part of our future programs.

-Gale Gunter Reitan
Director of Student Activities and the Student Center
Hamline University
St. Paul, Minnesota

It is my pleasure to write a recommendation for Correo Aéreo.  Abel and Madeleine Rocha entertained the Hamline University community during an evening performance in October.  Hamline University is a small liberal arts college located in St. Paul, Minnesota and has undergraduate students, graduate students, and law students.

The music of Correo Aéreo carried the audience to a new world with a soul filled with beauty and courage.  The instrumentation and vocals transformed the audience from distant observers to intimate participants in the struggle for a cultural voice.  That the participants were affected is evident in the comments below:

"I didn't need to know Spanish because this music touched my soul." -Hamline student

"Their instrumentation is truly remarkable." -Hamline music faculty member

After the performance, Abel and Madeleine welcomed people up on stage to ask questions and to see the unique instruments.  They were warm and responsive to people's inquiries.  Abel and Madeleine's musical creations are intricately related to the cultural origins of the people of Venezuela, Mexico, and Argentina.  Their performance inspired respect and curiosity about a culture and a people whose voice is rarely heard and even more rarely experienced.

Abel and Madeleine are talented professional musicians whose skill is evident in their ability to adjust to the needs of each performance.  Although we did not utilize their talents in an artist-in-residence program, I am confident that they would be inspiring teachers who extend beyond musicians to sharing their talents.  I observed them work with curious audience members of all ages and cultures for almost an hour after the performance.  Their patience and belief in their work was evident.

Madeleine and Abel Rocha of Correo Aéreo are a rare find in the world of musicians.  Their music is a cultural experience which enhances any group they work with.  I recommend Correo Aéreo with the highest regards and best wishes for their future success.

-Ronna Kalish
Director, NM Tech Performing Arts Series

Please extend my warmest thanks and gratitude to Correo Aéreo for a wonderful opening concert in the New Mexico Tech Performing Arts Series in Socorro.  I received so much positive feedback about their performance.

Abel and Madeleine have a charismatic stage presence; Madeleine's dance and theater background is so evident in the unique way she sings, plays percussion and violin.  Although Abel had a bad cold, I don't think anyone in the audience realized.  Correo Aéreo has a very different sound, not typical at all for a group doing a variety of South American music.  They are very mesmerizing to watch and hear.

So I hope you share this letter with them both, and again, we really enjoyed their performance.  I hope we can have a return visit.