Agustin Lira
Born in Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico, in 1945, Agustín Lira (NEA National Heritage Fellow, 2007) emigrated first to Lordsburg, New Mexico and then shortly after to California with his mother, brothers, sister, and a cousin at the age of seven. The family wandered through small farmworker towns and labor camps, following the crops up and down the San Joaquin Valley, finally settling in Selma.
In 1965, at the age of 19, he cofounded El Teatro Campesino with Luis Valdez during the Delano Grape Strike headed by Cesar Chavez. The company created songs and plays, performed on picket lines, at rallies and toured throughout the United States, giving voice to the farmworkers’ plight and demonstrating the power of artistic expression in uniting and inspiring the farmworker communities.Campesino received the New York Off Broadway Award, the Los Angeles Drama Critic’s Circle Award, appeared at the Newport Folk Festival and was the subject of feature articles in Time, Newsweek, and the Wall Street Journal.
Patricia Wells Solorzano
“A dazzling voice with an inner strength that warms the hearts of her listeners.” Juan Gonzalez, El Tecolote, San Francisco
Patricia Wells Solórzano was born in Brawley, California 25 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border and spent her early childhood immersed in two different and distinct cultures. Playing various instruments in grade school, she was attracted to drama and Mexican folkloric dance in high school. While a college student at CSU Northridge in 1975, she participated in the Los Angeles Gallo boycott spearheaded by the United Farm Worker’s Union. Working together with UFW organizers, many of them farmworkers themselves, deeply impacted her. Patricia joined El Teatro de la Tierra, a non-profit arts organization and taught Spanish to children, studying drama and music with Agustin Lira (cofounder of El Teatro Campesino).
Patricia Wells Résume INA-21-13736
Theatrical Plays
• “Covid 19, La Obra, The Play” by me and Agustín Lira, to be premiered on Radio Bi-lingue
in April 2020 on the program “La Hora Mixteca”
• “Who is Responsible? The Immigrant Crisis at the Southern Border”, written by Lira,
produced by Wells, performed by Teatro Inmigrante, on August 3rd & 10th, 2019; I played 3
roles and performed music in the show.
• “The Conscience of a Bully” written & directed by Lira & I, and performed by Teatro
Inmigrante at EOC Sanctuary Stage Theater, Fresno in 2014; I played 2 roles.
• “The Weight of Things: Four Vignettes & a Song on Obesity” written by Lira, produced by
me, and performed by Teatro Inmigrante at EOC Sanctuary and Unitarian Universalist
Church, Fresno 2011; I played and sang throughout the show; Lira and I put together music
• “Regeneración, Ricardo Flores Magón and the Mexican Revolution of 1910” a play with
music written and directed by me and Lira, I chose Nuevo Canto songs for the segues and
sang throughout the show. March 2010.
• “Esperanza and Luz: A Tale of 2 Immigrant Women,” a play written by Lira and co-directed
by Wells, performed in venues throughout Fresno by Teatro Inmigrante; I played Coyota, a
female version of El Coyote, the evil protagonist. 2009
• “Actos”- “Honest Sancha’s Used Mexican Lot” and “The 2 Faces of the Boss” directed by
Lira and produced by me for the 2008 Rogue Festival- 5 shows/venues; I played a Colonel
from the Mexican Revolution. Performed the show at UC Merced.
• “A Yellow Rose From Texas, Emma Tenayuca” a play written by Lira and directed by Wells
and Lira; performed in venues throughout Fresno 2007
• “I Am Joaquin” by Corky Gonzales, adapted by Lira, live music by Lira & Wells “Heroes &
Legends” music celebrating courageous figures in history. Performed show 3 times in Fresno,
then Butte College, La Raza Galeria Posada, Sacramento, and UCSD. 2006
• “Candelaria Arroyo, The Music of Life” written by Wells and Lira and co-directed;
Commissioned by Pan Valley Institute AFSC for the Tamejavi Festival 2004; I played music
throughout the play for the segues.
• “Cruz, Miracle at Labor Camp 12” written by Lira and produced by me for the Rogue
Festival 2003; I played the comadre busy body that connects the storyline.
• “Esperanza and Luz: A Tale of 2 Immigrant Women”, written by Lira and produced by Wells
for the 2002 Tamejavi Festival; I played one of the 2 immigrant women.
Other Productions
• “La Muerte Viene Echando Rasero – Death Comes Wielding Her Scythe”, I produced and
performed, with Generaciones student group, a show of songs in English and Spanish about
death, a song/poem; 2 speakers on Mixtec Traditions for Día de los Muertos; Oct 27, 2018
• “Songs of Struggle & Hope” CD release Celebration with performances by me, Lira, Merlinda
Espinosa, and Generaciones Students June 25, 2016 Chicano Youth Center
• “Chicano Music Festival: I produced, performed in concert, and facilitated a panel of Chicano
Artists who spoke of the role of the arts in social change. July 21 & 22, 2006
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• “Johnny’s Dream” co-wrote & co-produced health-related play with Lira, for the Yuba/
Marysville Unified School District Migrant Education Program; 3 months in Summer of 1985;
performed twice with live music for farm worker families and special show for over 800
Unified School District Elementary & Jr. High students. The play was produced again by
several schools in the USD;
Recordings and Film (I sang vocals, played leads & rhythms on guitar and requinto)
• “Songs of Struggle & Hope” Smithsonian Folkways; my vocals, guitar/requinto leads, rhythms
on 15 songs by A. Lira released June 2016
• “Students of Change: Los del ’68” film by Martha Sanchez and Mario Zavaleta and KCTS 9,
2010
• “Viva la Causa!” By Bill Brummel and Alfonso Mayo for Southern Poverty Law Center
Teaching Tolerance film (nominated for an Oscar) 2008
• “Songs of Social Justice, live performance from Edwards Auditorium” Honors Colloquium; U
of Rhode Island Center for Non-Violence and Peace Studies 2006
• “Rolas de Aztlan: Songs of the Chicano Movement” Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Curated by Steve Azcona and Russell Rodriguez 2005
• “Best of Broadside: Anthems of the American Underground” (1962-1988) Compilation 2001
• “So Why Is This Important?”music for short film By Ana Garcia featured in the LA Short Film
Festival 2001
• “Making History: an Introduction to S.E.I.U. & the Labor Movement” by Lucia Duncan 2001
• “I Have Been Here Forever” a Lira/Wells production (CA Arts Council funding) collection of
12 songs recorded at DD Studios in Fresno 1998
• Radio Show featuring Alma’s music on Latino USA & NPR won a Golden Mike Award from
Radio Television News Association 1998
• “The Fight in the Fields: Cesar Chavez & the Farm Worker’s Struggle” by Ray Tellez and Rick
Tejada-Flores Paradigm Productions and PBS, recorded vocals, guitar, and requinto music for
the film 1996
• “Songs of Love & Struggle” a Lira/Wells production collection of 13 songs recorded at DD
Studios in Fresno 1992
• “We Shall Overcome” Columbia/Folkways music (live recordings) from the American
Folklife Festival World Music of Struggle 1991
• “Encuentro del Canto Popular” CD of live performance songs, Acción Latina, El Tecolote
Newspaper & SF Cultural Arts 1991
• “Agustín Lira, From the Fields to a New Beginning” produced by Phil Sonnichsen &
Ambiente Records 1983
Invited Performances
• “Vietnam Anti-War Movement Reunion” at the Unitarian Universalist Church; the Community
Alliance Newspaper, WILPF, the Social Justice Com at the UU 6-22-2019
• Northern California Association of Kodály Educators NCAKE invitation for Concert
Performance and Q & A at the San Francisco Community Music Center Capp St. 2018
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• Migrant Education Conference for Teachers and Program Facilitators & Liaisons . Merced
Unified School District; Lira & Wells performed an hour of music and narrative. March 2017
• American Folklife Festival Ralph Rinzler Memorial Concert Series; Lira, me, and Russell
Rodriguez performed 2015
• Trinity University and the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center San Antonio TX, 3 day
Residency, with Lira and Bassist Ravi Knypstra 2014
• Library of Congress American Folklife Center, Homegrown Music Series wLira & Knypstra,
Washington DC 2011
• Kennedy Center Millenium Stage, “Songs of My Home: Chicano Music from California,” with
Lira & Knypstra, Washington DC 2011
• “Cesar Chavez: His Life & Times,” San Jose State University Chicano/Latino Faculty & Staff
Association, Dr. Ernesto Galarza Institute, and Associated Students Feb 7 2009
• National Heritage Fellows Concert at the Music Center at Strathmore, to Celebrate Lira’s
induction; Lira, me, and Jemmy Bluestein
• University of Rhode Island Honors Colloquium “Songs of Social Justice” four day residency
with concert & classroom presentations, with Lira and I. Oct 2006
• UC San Diego, La Jolla CA, Chicano Studies Dept. 2006
• El Paso Community College, El Paso TX 2006
• CSU Sacramento CA, Performing Arts & Drama Department 2005
• Stanford University, Chicano/Latino Performing Arts (Chris Clark) 2004
• Butte College, Butte CA, Professor Leonard Adame & MEChA 2004
• Encuentro del Canto Popular/Latin American New Song Festival SF CA 2003
• Oceanside Public Library Summer Concert Series and statewide tour with Lira & Knypstra
new program “Cesar Chavez, His Life & Times” songs and narrative 2003
• Self-Help Graphics East Los Angeles performance with Lira & Knypstra 2003
• Menlo College, Cesar Chavez Celebration with Founders, Lira & I performed 2003
• The Claremont Colleges, Claremont CA 2002
• UC San Diego Performing Arts, La Jolla CA 2002
• Texas A & M University, Associated Students Corpus Christi TX 2001
• U of Texas, Austin TX 2001
• U of North Texas, Latino coalition of students, Dallas/Fort Worth TX 2001
• U of WA, Chicano Studies Seattle WA 2000
• U of Oregon, Coalition of Human Rights Organizations on campus Eugene OR 2000
• UC Boulder , Boulder, Performing Arts CO 2000
• U of Colorado, Performing Arts Colorado Springs, CO 2000
• WA State U Bellingham, Performing Arts Bellingham WA. 1999
• Swallow Hill Music Association, Denver CO 1999
• San Jose Stage Theater, Performing Arts San Jose CA 1998
• Taos Community Auditorium, Performing Arts Committee of Taos, NM 1997
• Marquette University, MEChA & coalition of student organizations Milwaukee WI 1997
• Ohio State U, Bowling Green OH ASB & Performing Arts 1996
• New York State U, Freedonia NY, ASB & Performing Arts 1996
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• Concert performance w Camelia Symphony Orchestra director’s special invitation in “Gran
Hombre de la Tierra,” an event celebrating the life of Cesar Chavez; Lira, Knypstra, me, and
Gabriel Tenorio (mandolin) 1995
• US – Cuba Friendship Concert, Global Exchange and the Pablo Milanés Foundation Teatro
Mello in Havana Cuba 1994
• 2nd Annual Chicano Music Festival, Su Teatro and co-sponsors, Denver CO 1994
• American Folklife Festival World Music of Struggle section, Ralph Rinzler & Worth Long
producers week-long residency and live recordings with Lira and other musicians 1990
• 17th International Cervantino Arts Festival (Mexico’s Premier Festival) Guanajuato MX 1989
• Día de los Muertos, Fresno Metropolitan Museum and Arte Américas, Fresno CA 1986
• Primer Festival Internacional de la Canción en la Frontera, Dept of Culture and Arts of Baja
California in Mexicali and Tijuana, BC 1984
• Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo, CA 1983
• Encuentro del Canto Popular/Latin American New Song Festival, El Tecolote Newspaper,
Acción Latina, SF, 1982, 1984, 1990
• La Peña in Berkeley CA 1982
• Voices of the Nations Music & Poetry Festival Dr. Enslin and Music Dept CSU Fresno 1980
Teaching
As part of Teatro de la Tierra, I taught music (free classes) in the community funded through the
Fresno Arts Council – from 1983 through1989, CAC Artist in Residence AIC from 1987 through
2003 (with every 4th year off) then again through the Local Impact Grant from 2006 through
2017, Alliance for CA Traditional Arts Living Cultures Grant program 2004 thru 2019 (every 4th
year off), the CA Endowment 2013-2015, 2017-2019, Fidelity Charitable Foundation 2016-2019,
and so on. Collaborating/co-sponsoring organizations that provided classroom space (Theater
classes from 1999 to early 2020) through the years: Fresno Arts Council, Arte Américas, Catholic
Charities, the Unitarian Universalist Church, Fresno Center for Non-Violence, Centro BiNacional para el Desarrollo Indígena Oaxaqueño CBDIO, and the Chicano Youth Center. I began
teaching on Zoom in March of 2020 through the present.
Presenting
From 1986 through 2003, as part of Teatro de la Tierra and with co-sponsors, I presented artists
from Mexico- Jose de Molina, Gerardo Peña, Federico Borja, and Tribu; from Chile- Rafael
Manriquez, Quique Cruz, Maria Fernanda, Mochi Parra, Lichi Fuentes, Horacio Durán (founder
of Inti-illimani), and Isabel Parra (daughter of Violeta Parra); and many local concerts of student
groups- featuring Merlinda Espinosa and Generaciones for the last 11 years.
Awards, Recognition, & BA
In the Spring of 2010 Patricia received her Bachelor of Arts (History & Theater) degree at
Goddard College in Vermont. She is the recipient of the Horizon Artist Award (2010) from the
Fresno Arts Council; She is one of 72 women chosen to appear in Victoria Alvarado’s book,
Mujeres de Consciencia/Women of Conscience (Floricanto Press, 2009), “A tribute to California
Latinas who have made a definite and long standing contribution to the Hispanic community and
Patricia Wells Résume INA-21-13736
country at large.” Montalvo Artist Residency (4 months) in 2008; “Premio Mujer” honoring
women for life-long contributions to their community from Caminante Cultural Work of San
Francisco 2007; U of Rhode Island Center for Non-Violence and Peace Studies special
recognition “for career contributions using music & theatre on the pilgrimage to social justice,”
Honors Colloquium ‘Songs of Social Justice’ 2006; “Rebozo Award” from Arte Americas 2005;
“Woman of the Year” from the Club Latinoamericano of Fresno 2004; “Mujeres
Revolucionarias” for cultural work addressing social justice from Pan Valley Institute AFSC
2004; and other local awards/recognition
Ravi Knypstra
Ravi Knypstra was born and raised in Los Angeles and grew up in North Hollywood. At the age of six Ravi started playing the trumpet, and played all the way through his first year in college, when he began to play the bass, discovering that when played well, the bass actually has the power to steer the music in more directions than lead instruments do.