Cuban-American composer, author and architect Jose Raul Bernardo died in February of this year after a long and valiant battle with lymphoma. A long-time friend of The Queen's Chamber Band, he composed "Into the Light", a concerto for harpsichord, winds and strings; and, Cuban Concertino, a quintet for violin, viola, cello, double bass and harpsichord that took as its inspiration Afro-Cuban dances from the 1930s, his mother's favorite music. He also arranged his Cuban Baroque Suite, "Man from Havana Overture" and several other works for our group. With love we dedicate the opening concert of the 2008-2009 New York City series to Jose's life and work.