The musical ensemble Tres Mundos will perform at 9 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Friday at the auditorium in Sumner Elementary School and at 12:15 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Banfield Elementary School’s gym.

Tres Mundos, or “Three Worlds,” features pianist/vocalist Viviana Pintado from Cuba, percussionist Eliezer Freites-Santos from Brazil, and saxophonist/flutist Douglas Little from the United States. 

Tres Mundos explores the multi-cultural mix of histories, languages, dances and cultures that have shaped the music of the Americas.

They visited Neveln and Southgate in October and will be performing at both Banfield and Sumner this week.

These performances were funded in part with a grant from the Minnesota Music Educators Association, through a program titled “Equal Access — Changing Classrooms.” The goals of the program are: to build the skills, tools and knowledge of the educator to meet the needs of students in culturally diverse classrooms; to provide access to culturally relevant music education in Minnesota’s classrooms; and to create change in the classroom.

The performances of Tres Mundos will serve as a catalyst to exploring and experiencing music from many world cultures in our elementary schools. 

The concerts are funded by the Minnesota Music Educators Association, Austin Public Schools Integration Committee and Music Boosters of Austin.