Harlingen Concert Association Fosters Music Education through Performances and Scholarships
- Lisa Campos
- 3 minutes ago
- 7 min read
(This article was written by Lisa Campos and was featured in the November 2025 issue of Explore Harlingen Magazine.)
For 92 years, nonprofit organization Harlingen Concert Association (HCA) has been committed to recruiting exceptional artists to present high-quality shows. Thanks to season ticketholders and sponsors, as well as a strong partnership with Live on Stage, based in Nashville, Tennessee, HCA concerts are offered at affordable, family-friendly prices.
Education and inspiration are at the heart of HCA’s mission. They have proudly sponsored performances by these world-class artists at local schools. In addition to sharing their music, the artists often give performance advice and answer questions about their instruments to their student audiences. They engage with the students one-on-one, giving hugs and high fives, signing autographs, and taking selfies with dozens of star-struck youngsters and their chaperones.
For some students, HCA outreach programs offer their only opportunity to experience a live performance by a world-class tenor, play saxophone alongside a Grammy-nominated artist, hear classical music played on the accordion, or shake hands with a musician from across the United States or world.
Scholarship Recipients
To further motivate youth leaders to pursue a higher education in music and performance, HCA awards scholarships to Harlingen students every year. In 2024, HCA awarded four (4) scholarships to the following gifted students:
Angel Charles, who is attending the University of North Texas to pursue a degree in Music Education.
Adam Hernandez is attending Texas A&M Kingsville to major in Music Education.
Carolina Kortan, who is attending the University of Texas at Austin to continue her experiences with Speech, Drama, and Debate.
Karla Rivera is also attending the University of Texas at Austin to major in Radio, Television, and Film (RTF).
The HCA is proud of all their scholarship recipients and look forward to awarding more high achievers this year.
HCA Board
Each year, the scholarship recipients are selected by the Scholarship Committee, a subset of the HCA Board of Directors. The HCA Board of Directors, currently composed of 18 volunteers, sets the concert schedule, secures sponsorships, and plans fundraising events. The current HCA Board includes the following individuals.
Barbara Disbennett, the current President of HCA and Chair of the Scholarship Committee, has two passions – nursing and the performing arts. She retired from nursing after 53 years. She joined HCA in 2022 and is committed to promote all aspects of the mission of the organization – music performances, education outreach, and student scholarships.
Bianca Garza is currently serving as HCA’s Vice President, Student Outreach Chair, and SING Chair. She also serves on the organization’s Scholarship Committee. Bianca joined HCA in 2020. A passionate dance teacher and former high school choir member, she shares her love for music and the arts with her students and community.
Dr. Larry Dahm, a retired Harlingen pathologist, is HCA’s Treasurer. He has served on the HCA Board of Directors for about 10 years. He also serves on the HCA Scholarship Committee. He says it is great FUN to serve a lively, thriving community organization that brings so much to audiences and school students in our area each year.
Nicholas Garza currently serves as HCA Secretary and member of the Scholarship Committee. He is a performing musician, singing concerts around the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and South America. He has served on the HCA for three (3) years and enjoys giving back to his community by helping bring the magic of music to the Rio Grande Valley (RGV).
Kim White has more than 40 years of experience as a dedicated community banker and has had the privilege of serving on multiple local boards, always with a focus on helping our community grow and thrive. Kim serves as Chair of the Sponsorship Committee and member of the Scholarship Committee.
Adele Wilcox has served on the HCA Board since 2023. She loves how committed HCA is to bringing music to the RGV and giving our students the opportunity to meet and engage with the artists. She is the Chair of the organization’s Subscription and Tickets Committee.
Judy Ross has been member of HCA since 2011. She joined because of her love for music (she plays piano) and the desire to be part of a civic-minded organization that offers quality music entertainment to her community. She serves on the House Management Committee.
Lois Day-Stone came to the RGV in 1978 as a bride from Iowa with a history of singing in church, high school, and college choirs and playing in high school and college bands. After retiring from teaching English & Speech at University of Texas Pan American (UTPA), it was her joy to join the HCA Board in 2003.
Denise Meyners is a retired Marketing Administrator who has lived and worked in Dallas, Corpus Christi, and Harlingen, Texas over the last 28 years. She joined the HCA Board in 2017 because of her love of music, theater, and the fine arts. Denise has served on various HCA committees and is currently Hospitality Committee Chair.
Bettina Elliott happened to stumble upon the HCA while browsing on Facebook in 2017. Just a few years later, she contributes to the decision-making process for selecting performances to bring to our community. Bettina is currently the Chair of the HCA House Management Committee.
Armando Ramirez is a San Benito native and a Baby Boomer, for whom music has always been a huge part of his life. He has served as a Board Director for 10 years and was on the Executive Board for two (2) years in the role of Secretary. He will be collaborating with Artist’s sales this season.
Bill Elliott joined HCA after the COVID shutdown. He has served on the Board in various capacities for several years and was instrumental in securing the current venue of the Christian Fellowship Church auditorium. Bill serves on the Marketing/Publicity Committee.
Becky Magdalena grew up in Houston with a love for dance, decorating, and all things creative. She joined the HCA Board of Directors in 2020 to support the arts and serve her community. She is part of the HCA Sponsorship and Social Media Committees.
Dennis Lester has been a professional musician for 59 years and a music educator for 54 years. He was the Assistant Band Director with Harlingen CISD for 34 years and has now been with Marine Military Academy for the past five (5) years. He has been on the Board of Directors of HCA since 2021 and serves as the Concert Manager.
Jan Lester retired as a teacher with Los Fresnos CISD after 18 years. She was also the Los Fresnos High School/Los Fresnos United UIL Coordinator and Coach for nine (9) years. She has been an HCA Board Member since 2023, serving on the Sponsorship, Scholarship, and Marketing/Publicity/Social Media Committees.
Eric Garcia is an Agent & Financial Professional with New York Life. He serves on the Board of Directors of five (5) nonprofit organizations in our local community, including the HCA. He joined HCA in 2024 to experience the excitement and growth of the scholarship recipients.
Shezadi “Princess” Charania is a Community Engagement Professional with CenterWell Senior Primary Care. Shezadi joined HCA because of her deep passion for music in all its forms and genres and sees it as a source of energy and emotional connection.
Upcoming Concerts
The 2025-2026 concert season promises to bring music lovers from all backgrounds together to enjoy these exciting concerts.
The Brothers Doobie (November 4, 2025)
The Brothers Doobie are an exceptional musical tribute band dedicated to honoring the iconic sound of The Doobie Brothers and Michael McDonald. Composed of six talented musicians, the Brothers Doobie captivate audiences with their uncanny ability to recreate the soulful sounds and energetic performances of the original band. Featuring iconic songs like “What a Fool Believes,” “Takin’ It to the Streets,” “Black Water,” and more, this group will take you on an unforgettable musical journey back to the 1970s and 1980s.
Mariachi 7 Leguas (December 2, 2025)
Mariachi 7 Leguas was founded 20 years ago by Emilio Santos in the RGV in Texas. They have been given many awards and recognitions, not only in the United States and Mexico, but across the globe. Their soulful performances are deeply rooted in Mexican tradition. The Holiday Concert for Harlingen Concert Association will feature traditional Mariachi music along with classic Christmas songs.
PIANOMANIA! – Rockin’ the 1950s with Jared Freiburg (January 20, 2026)
Piano virtuoso Jared Freiburg has been performing 1950s-era music since he was a teenager. With legends like Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, and Ray Charles as his sources of inspiration, Freiburg channeled his talents into a successful career as a touring musician and has gone on to tour and perform in venues of all sizes around the world. Filled with good vibrations, electrifying piano mastery, and a non-stop parade of favorite Golden Oldies, this show celebrates the music and artists of the early years of Rock ‘N Roll with songs like “Real Wild Child,” “Pretty Woman,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” and more.
Chris Ruggiero: Teenage Dreams & Magic Moments (February 10, 2026)
PBS-TV star, Chris Ruggiero, takes his audiences on a journey through the golden age of rock and roll in his brand-new show “Teenage Dreams and Magic Moments,” breathing new life into the timeless music of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Often described as an “old soul” despite his young age, Chris performs the pop-rock music that defined three decades with energy, style, and soul. Backed by a four-piece band, Chris’ concerts may feature iconic songs like “California Dreamin’,” “Stand by Me,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” and others.
GQ Gentlemen’s Quartet (February 24, 2026)
Gentlemen’s Quartet (GQ) is a modern, elegant take on some of the most famous music ever written, fusing together multiple genres in a perfect symphony of sophistication, virtuosity, and humor. Composed of cello/mandocello, guitar, bass, percussion, piano and violin, with special appearances by female vocalist Erin Shields, their concerts offer audiences a new, often deeper, way of listening to music. Featuring a multitude of musical genres, their repertoire includes selections like “Adagio,” “New York ‘States’ of Mind,” “Don’t Stop Believing,” “Rhapsody Overload,” and more.
All concerts are held at 7:30 pm at Christian Fellowship Church, 901 N Loop 499. You can follow HCA on Facebook (@HarlingenConcertAssociation) for updates. For information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Kim White, Sponsorship Chair, at kjwhite1962@gmail.com.
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