Maria’s Magical Music Adventure / La mágica aventura musical de María

an Ars Lyrica Houston children’s book

Maria meets Matthew the musical magician, and the two travel back in time almost 300 years to meet Antonio Vivaldi. Next stop: Venice, Italy!

Maria’s Magical Music Adventure is an Ars Lyrica Houston children’s book, underwritten by Connie Kwan-Wong and CKW LUXE Magazine. The book features a girl named Maria, who loves to sing. When Matthew the Magician appears, Maria is hesitant, but after Matthew explains that he is a magical musician with the ability to time travel, the two travel to Venice, Italy to meet Antonio Vivaldi, who has just written The Four Seasons. With breathtaking illustrations and a story full of adventure and excitement, Maria’s Magical Music Adventure transports readers back in time alongside Maria and Matthew, delighting and inspiring audiences of all ages.

Maria’s Magical Music Adventure includes a glossary of musical terms and composers, providing additional historical and cultural context for the story.

The book is available for $25.00 (plus shipping if applicable) in English and Spanish, and it is available for pickup in Houston or shipping throughout the United States.

🏳️‍🌈 Maria’s Magical Music Adventure includes LGBTQIA+ representation. Learn more here.

About the author

Emma Kent Wine is a nationally-recognized composer whose music “testifies to wonder, vitality, sagacity, and nostalgia through profound simplicity” (The Boston Musical Intelligencer). A graduate of The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, her music has been performed across the United States: Her work Be Happy, Noble Heart was premiered by the Tucson Symphony Orchestra in 2013, and other notable works include Liftoff (2017) for brass and percussion, commissioned for Rice University’s 2017 Undergraduate Convocation; After Harvey (2018) for soprano and piano, commissioned by HGOco with text by Rukmini Kalamangalam, Houston’s 2018 Youth Poet Laureate; and Assurance (2021) for soprano, horn, and piano, commissioned by Juventas New Music Ensemble. Queer Rosary, Emma’s latest commission, was written for Cantorei, a mixed-voice chamber choir at Clemson University and premiered in April 2022. Visit emmakentwine.com to listen to her music.

About the underwriter

Maria’s Magical Music Adventure is underwritten by Connie Kwan-Wong and CKW Luxe Magazine.

CKW Luxe Magazine is a philanthropic, inspirational, and quality living magazine whose articles focus on culture, humanity, charity, and well-being. The letters CKW stand for Caring, Kindness, and Wisdom, the precepts upon which the magazine is based. Our goal is to educate and inspire and provide information on living a quality life. We also strive to promote charities that improve our world. Our message is one of love, hope, and positivity, which we convey with exceptional storytelling.

CKW Publishing understands that you, as a writer, have something important to say that you would like to share with the world. Our goal is to make that happen. CKW Publishing supports adults and children with their writing and publishing dreams. It is our belief that you are never too young nor too old to be heard.

CKW LUXE Outreach Impact

Thanks to the generous support of the CKW Luxe Magazine, Ars Lyrica’s free and accessible programs have reached over 12,000 underserved children this past year, with 27 outreach performances at 20 Houston public schools, eight community venues, and a touring to Uvalde, TX.

“Maria’s Magical Music Adventure” and its accompanying public videos are available with live music and narration in English, Spanish, and as a read-along, enhancing the book’s interdisciplinary capabilities. In-person bilingual readings with live music, featuring music from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” helped families and teachers guide their students through interdisciplinary journeys, addressing the curricular and developmental needs of children and adolescents and encouraging them to engage with the book and music in innovative ways. Interactive, bilingual book readings of “Maria’s Magical Music Adventure” were presented at the Children’s Museum, Rothko Chapel and Menil Neighborhood Community Day, Heights Kids’ Day of Music festival, Heights Mercantile, Heights M-K-T, and Brazos Bookstore.

The success of the book led to extensive coverage, including two Houston Chronicle articles, TV broadcasts, and a collaboration with Express Children’s Theatre that saw the book turned into a play with three actors, a full string quartet, and interactive projections. The ExxonMobil Discovery Series at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts presented the program for nearly 3000 children from public schools this past September; Miller Outdoor Theater offered two performances for nearly 5000 family members in October; the upcoming Spring’24 presentations include the Rothko Chapel/Menil Neighborhood Community Day, Heights Kids Day of Music, and Campbell Learning Center.

A true music adventure

Maria’s Magical Music Adventure is a journey rooted in the music of Antonio Vivaldi. Emma Kent Wine, who also authored the book, wrote a string quartet with original music and arranged excerpts from The Four Seasons to accompany the story. The music, along with a reading in English and Spanish, is on YouTube as part of Ars Lyrica’s ongoing e-series Musical Storytime. Watch below!

Audience reviews

“I just finished this lovely story! I loved how the prose of the story goes exactly with the illustrators. I particularly enjoyed the part of the book where Maria goes to the concert at the end. I am sure that the mystery of going to a Classical concert will be more accessible to all children!”

Want to share your reviews, questions, and comments?
Fill out our form here (scroll to the bottom of the page): https://www.arslyricahouston.org/maria/more

Musical Storytime: Maria’s Magical Music Adventure is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.