Encanto Arts residency at CWU to feature internationally acclaimed musicians

Partnership to culminate with Una Noche de Encanto at The Capitol Theatre on January 23

During his four years studying at Central Washington University, CWU alumnus José Iñiguez focused on music while developing his business skills, building a foundation that would eventually allow him to pursue a career as a tenor and produce his own opera productions.

Years later, his nonprofit organization, Encanto Arts, is dedicated to fostering the same spirit of relentless musical exploration and inclusivity he found at CWU.

“The way I sing is very passionate because of my heritage, but at CWU I discovered that same passion in a broader variety of musical styles from all over the world,” said Iñiguez, the president of the Seattle-based organization. “Being cultured is about being open to all cultural knowledge, not just your own, and that was an important building block for me.”

As a way of giving back to the program that helped him find his footing as a musician, Iñiguez and Encanto Arts will be participating in a residency with the CWU Music department from January 19-22, 2027, bringing internationally renowned guest artists to campus to work alongside CWU students and faculty.

F. Ivon Pino Leal, a Mezzo-Soprano from Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico; Jacqueline Itzel Medina Green; and Iñiguez, who sings tenor, will participate in rehearsals and musical collaboration with the CWU Symphony and Choir, providing students with opportunities for cultural exchange, mentorship, and working directly with professional artists from Mexico and beyond.

The residency will culminate on January 23 with Una Noche de Encanto at The Capitol Theatre in Yakima, bringing the CWU students and guest artists together on stage for a public performance. The evening’s show will be accompanied by the CWU Symphony and CWU Choir, lending regional flavor to a truly international musical experience.

“Una Noche de Encanto was created to bring communities together through music and to show that opera, mariachi, bolero, and symphony music can all belong on the same stage,” Iñiguez said. “Bringing this production to Central Washington and the Yakima Valley is especially meaningful to me because this is where I grew up. I want young people and families to walk into the Capitol Theatre, see themselves represented on that stage, and know that the arts belong to them, too.”

The audience will be treated to three special performances: the world premiere of Al·legoria al cant dels ocells by David Penadés-Fasanar, the U.S. premiere of Viajando por México (Medley) by Miguel Ángel Ayala, and the world premiere of San Marcos 1938 by Simon and Santiago Iñiguez and Encanto Arts.

The entire concert will be conducted by CWU Director of Orchestras Nikolas Caiole, Miguel Ángel Alatorre Álvarez from Secretaria de Educación y Cultura de Estado de Colima, and Justin Raffa of the True Concord Voices and Orchestra in Tucson, Arizona.

Caiole knows that the experience will lend breadth and deep educational value to students’ time in the CWU Symphony and Choir.

“The collaboration between CWU Symphony Orchestra and Encanto Arts is an incredible opportunity for our students,” he said. “This event will enhance their experience through cultural exchange, mentorship, and music education.”

Encanto Arts Board of Directors member Ray Almanza added that he is excited to see the production bring representation to Central Washington audiences.

“As a proud Filipino American, I understand how powerful it is to see our cultures and communities represented and celebrated through the arts,” he said. “Encanto Arts is about creating those connections across cultures and generations. Una Noche de Encanto gives families from throughout Central Washington an opportunity to experience world-class music together while celebrating the diversity that makes our communities so special.”

Una Noche de Encanto will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday, January 23, with doors opening at 6 p.m. Tickets are available online. Thanks to the generous support of event sponsors, admission is free for K–12 students. Each purchased adult ticket includes admission for up to four K–12 students, helping make this special cultural and educational experience accessible to families throughout the Yakima Valley.

The event is sponsored by The Capitol Theatre, Encanto Arts, Bustos Media LLC, Field to Future, Yakima-Morelia Sister City Association, Radio Cadena, The City of Yakima, CWU, and the CWU College of Arts and Humanities.