Families enjoy music and treats at history museum

EDINBURG - Don and Mary Margaret Leaman may not have known all of the song's titles, but when the Quartetto Ziyriab classical guitar group played traditional Mexican, Spanish and Italian music, as well as other classics, the Pharr couple recognized almost each piece.

"It was just wonderful," said Mary Margaret Leaman, who attended Sunday's classical guitar concert at the Museum of South Texas History with her husband and daughter, Ellen Hunt, who was visiting them from South Carolina.

The concert was included in the museum's regular admission. McAllen boutique Arte y Chocolate also set up a table there to sell chocolate treats to visitors.

Quartetto Ziyriab, which includes the museum's guitar teacher Gilbert Taunton, played traditional Mexican songs like "De Colores", as well as other popular pieces including "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

Many of those who attended traveled upstairs to visit the museum's exhibits after the performance.

Edinburg residents Lillie Silva and her daughter Lisa Chavez said they were impressed by the musicians' talent.

"At times it sounded like a piano. I thought there was a piano hidden somewhere," Silva said as she, her daughter and granddaughter visited the exhibits upstairs.

More than 100 people attended the quartet's performance at the museum in honor of Mother's Day, said Melissa Tijerina, the museum's programming officer.

The museum decided to host the event to provide more programs for the community and give mothers something relaxing to do, Tijerina said.

"Sometimes you want to sit down and enjoy the day," she said.

Jennifer L. Berghom covers education and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.