Sonia Marie de Leon de Vega is exceptional. She is music director and conductor of the Santa Cecilia Orchestra. Women, especially Latinas, don't usually fill this role. Her conducting is a pleasure to behold and a joy to hear.

Because of her work with the orchestra and their discovery program, which brings classical music to 16 schools per year, she has been recognized as a local hero by KCET and Union Bank.

Having music in everyone's life is a part of her mission. James and I plan to attend the concert to take place tomorrow @ Occidental College at 4:00.

The United States of Mexico is celebrating its 200th year of Independence from Spain and its 100th anniversary of its Revolution. The Sinfonia India by Chavez is among the first compositions to include indigenous themes. In that way he was like Bartok and Copland.

Tomorrow's concert will commemorate two important dates in Mexican history and will present music by some of Mexico's greatest composers.

Thorne Hall, Occidental College, 1600 Campus Road, Los Angeles, CA 90041

Graphic by Rodolfo Vega