Santa Cecilia Orchestra

Music:

Member Since: 6/26/2007
Band Website: scorchestra.org
Band Members: Sonia Marie De Leon de Vega- Music Director and ConductorSonia Marie De Leon de Vega, noted symphony and opera conductor and founder of Santa Cecilia Orchestra, has achieved distinction as creative and consummate musician, as a woman in a groundbreaking career role, and as a leading influence in the growing Latino culture in the United States. Her musical talents have inspired a large following in Southern California through live orchestral presentations, as well as an international audience through televised performances in the United States, Latin America and Europe. She was the first woman in history to receive a Vatican invitation to conduct a symphony orchestra at a Papal Mass. Univision, Mervyns, and Target named her Outstanding Latina of the Year in 2000. Hispanic Business Magazine voted her one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the United States in 2001 and 2005. In April 2005 Hispanic Business Magazine named her in their “80 Elite Women” list. In 2005 she was named “Business Woman Of The Year in Arts And Entertainment” by Senator Jack Scott and Assemblywoman Carol Liu. In September 2006 she will be warded the “Local Hero” award by KCET. She and 5 other “Local Heroes” will receive this award and have a mini-profile aired throughout the month of September 2006 on KCET and its’ affiliates.De Leon de Vega has been a guest conductor for many orchestras and opera companies and has developed concerts and children’s music workshops for the Cultural Affairs Department of the City of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Times in August 2000 has described her performances as “conducting with sweep and energy” and the Beverly Hills Outlook in July 2001 noted that she “is a thunderbolt and a force to be reckoned with on the musical scene.”Under the leadership of De Leon de Vega, Santa Cecilia Orchestra and the Discovering Music program have attracted the sponsorship of noted foundations and institutions, including the Annenberg Foundation, the Weingart Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. De Leon de Vega’s accomplishments have been recognized in a variety of media venues, including La Opinion, Vista Magazine, Latina Style, People Magazine, Hispanic Magazine, Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, Latina Magazine and Good Morning America” / “Despierta America”. Ms. De Leon de Vega is profiled in the book “Latina Power” by author Ana Nogales. The book was released (2004) by New York publisher Simon and Schuster .
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: None