Independent middle school holds fund-raiser


May 08, 2009 6:00 AM

HAMPTON FALLS — Grupo Fantasia, 2009 Best Latin Group winner at the 4th Annual Urban Music Awards held in Boston last week, will be performing this Saturday, May 9, at "Viva La Fiesta" — a "friend-raiser" hosted by Seacoast Academy, an independent middle school located in Hampton Falls, in a heated tent under the stars on the grounds of Liberty Farm.



Angel Wagner, master percussionist and musical director of Grupo Fantasia, and three other members of the high energy salsa band will be entertaining guests, and pulling them to the dance floor with a unique and irresistible blend of rhythms and vocals.

Wagner, who is originally from the Dominican Republic, plays more than 30 instruments, including many that are original, handmade and indigenous. Dedicated not only to entertaining audiences all over the Northeast and beyond, Grupo Fantasia also runs educational programs for schools and universities, and their web site includes a pictorial of dozens of exotic percussion instruments, with names like "Agogo Bells," "Afuche/Cabasa," "Tube Shekere" and "Merengue Guiros."

"Viva La Fiesta" also will feature fajitas and other tempting Latin cuisine from Muddy River Smokehouse, and a cash bar offering Mexican margaritas, beer and wine. Live and silent auctions will offer a treasure trove of services and merchandise donated by local businesses, as well as a "Shake Your Maraca" contest to win special prizes.

Many of these items will be showcased in Seacoast Academy's schoolhouse, along with one-of-a-kind art work created for the event by students in the Academy's Visual Arts and after-school enrichment programs, offering guests an opportunity to tour the school's classrooms and facilities. Most of the school's faculty, trustees, and parents will be in attendance, with over 150 tickets already booked.

"Viva La Fiesta" tickets are $40 per person and are available by calling Seacoast Academy at 772-9093. Proceeds will benefit the students, faculty and curriculum initiatives at the school, which is a registered non-profit educational organization.

Organizers say they hope the party will also be a celebration of the school's support from and growing role in the tri-state seacoast community.

Seacoast Academy is an independent day school in the NH seacoast serving Grades 6, 7 and 8. Informed by the Episcopal tradition; committed to the values of spiritual growth, respect for others and appreciation of diversity, staff works in alliance with our students' families to provide an innovative, nurturing and caring environment that inspires in our students a passion for learning, academic excellence, creative exploration, physical challenge and spiritual curiosity. For more visit www.seacoastacademy.org.



Sourcehttp://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090508-NEWS-905080353:

Angel Wagner, musical director of Grupo Fantasia and master percussionist, plays more than 30 instruments. Angel has studied at the Harbor Arts Academy in New York, The Berklee College of Music in Boston and in the 1990’s, tutored on congas under Grammy nominee, GIOVANNI HIDALGO. Currently, Angel is a band leader, percussion teacher, director of the Wagner Multicultural Workshop and percussionist in his band Grupo Fantasia.

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Angel began his career playing with a cheese grater and fork! At age eleven, Angel went on professional tour with a Merengue band, later performing in Miami and at Madison Square Garden in New York. Angel has performed with such groups as "Aramis Camilo", Orquestra Cafe", "Luis Ovalles" and "Manguito".

Angel formed Grupo Fantasia in 1993, with musicians from all around the world. Over the years, Fantasia has performed at the "Calle Ocho" festival in Miami, as well as touring extensively throughout the Northeast. His performances include a multitude of schools, universities, colleges, fundraisers, private functions and musical extravaganzas, affording him to team up with the most exclusive event coordinators and party planners in New England.

Angel Wagner provides traditional island entertainment for all people and much of the music is performed on original, handmade indigenous instruments. The extensive repertoire includes original and cover songs from the Caribbean and Latin America. Also represented are various Cuban, Dominican Merengue, Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena, Colombian Cumbia, Mexican Mariachi, Calypso, Reggae and Salsa music.

Some of Angel's performances include, The Lowell Folk Life Center, Museum of Fine Arts, The Concord Museum, The Museum of Science, The De Cordova Museum, Castle Hill and the Boston Children's Museum. In July of 1996 he performed on the State House steps for the passing of the Olympic Torch in Providence, Rhode Island. Angel was honored on two occasions in 1998 by performing for President Clinton and Mrs. Clinton and Senator Ted Kennedy for the Saint Jude's Children's Hospital Annual Fundraiser at the Wang Center.

Fantasia has won many awards in Latin categories, including Boston's prestigious 1993 Expose Award for BEST SPANISH BAND (1993), runner up in the Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce Award for Education (1999) and The 2003 Boston Music Award Nominee for BEST WORLD CLASS ACT. Angel has filmed television programs including: "Pachanga Latina" for WUNI 27, PBS programs and "Mosaic" for WLVI TV 56 in Boston. Film credits include "THE BLUE DINER" (2001) and “MY BEST FRIEND’S GIRL” (2008). Fantasia regularly performs at such Boston clubs as Avalon, Zoe’s, The Roxy, Brazo,The Beehive and The Jorge Hernandez Cultural Center.

Angel's love for fine dining mixed with his adoration of great music has led him to perform for many celebrity chefs and their restaurants. Just some of the literally hundreds, include "The Naked Fish", "Acapulco's", "The Bay Tower Room", "Sombreros", "The Madfish Grille", “The Studio”,” Bella Mia”, "The Fireplace", "The Cottonwood Cafe", "The Cactus Club", "Locke-Ober's", "Bella Mia" "Stephanie's on Newbury", “Captain Carlos” and “The Beehive.”

Fantasia has won many awards in Latin categories, including Boston's prestigious 1993 Expose Award for BEST SPANISH BAND (1993), runner up in the Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce Award for Education (1999) and The 2003 Boston Music Award Nominee for BEST WORLD CLASS ACT. Angel has filmed television programs including: "Pachanga Latina" for WUNI 27, PBS programs and "Mosaic" for WLVI TV 56 in Boston. Film credits include "THE BLUE DINER" (2001), Mariachi Fantasia can be seen in the 2008 feature motion picture "MY BESTFRIEND'S GIRL" starring Kate Hudson and Dane Cook.

Angel's love for fine dining mixed with his adoration of great music has led him to perform for many celebrity chefs and their restaurants. Just some of the literally hundreds, include "The Naked Fish", "Acapulco's", "The Bay Tower Room", "Sombreros", "The Madfish Grille", "The Fireplace", "The Cottonwood Cafe", "The Cactus Club", "Locke-ober's", "Division 16" and "Stephanie's on Newbury".

Angel Wagner and Fantasia have teamed up with the Mass Cultural Council and NEFA, with available GRANTS and FUNDING for qualifying applicants. Information, school programming and current rates can be obtained through Grupo Fantasia's AWARD-WINNING Web site at WWW.GRUPOFANTASIA.COM or e-mailing Tabriz6@aol.com.

Angel and his wife Karen reside in the seaside city of Beverly, Mass.
contact: KAREN WAGNER 978-927-6205
visit us at WWW.GRUPOFANTASIA.COM
YOU TUBE: GRUPOFANTASIA click here

REFERENCES:

Triton Jr. High School
Percussion Program Coinciding With Hispanic Heritage Month /Spanish Programs
Rep: Ann Welch 978-465-2397

Thomas Blake Middle School, Medfield, MA
Cindy Dalpe cdalpe@comcast.net

Click here to view a recent article about Grupo Fantasia published in the
Ipswich Chronicle.


Source:http://www.grupofantasia.com/biography.html