{"id":6908,"date":"2024-03-25T11:20:50","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T17:20:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/utrgvradio.com\/?p=6908"},"modified":"2024-03-25T11:20:51","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T17:20:51","slug":"a-program-of-excellence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/utrgvradio.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/25\/a-program-of-excellence\/","title":{"rendered":"A program of excellence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Ariana Gallardo<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/utrgvradio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Screen-Shot-2024-03-22-at-2.05.00-PM-1024x680.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6909\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/utrgvradio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Screen-Shot-2024-03-22-at-2.05.00-PM-1024x680.png 1024w, https:\/\/utrgvradio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Screen-Shot-2024-03-22-at-2.05.00-PM-300x199.png 300w, https:\/\/utrgvradio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Screen-Shot-2024-03-22-at-2.05.00-PM-768x510.png 768w, https:\/\/utrgvradio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Screen-Shot-2024-03-22-at-2.05.00-PM-1536x1021.png 1536w, https:\/\/utrgvradio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Screen-Shot-2024-03-22-at-2.05.00-PM.png 1562w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Courtesy photo \/ David Pike<br>Priscilla Espinoza \u00a0(From left) Violin major; Kassandra Juarez Graduate student; Nathan Fernandez now a member of Mariachi Sol de Mexico<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/utrgvradio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Mariachi-story-Ari-Story-_mixdown.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">35 years ago Mariachi Aztlan which is one of UTRGV\u2019s mariachi groups started with the inspiration of Mexican music and has since flourished from then on according to a university official.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Marichi Aztl\u00e1n was initiated by Assistant Vice President of Public Art at UTRGV, Dahlia Guerra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In her early years she performed as a pianist for folkl\u00f3rico dance, which inspired her to create a program where students from the valley are able to connect with hispanic heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2010, the mariachi had the opportunity to perform for former President Barack Obama in the White House. In the same year, they premiered their first mariachi opera for the Houston Grand Opera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2024, the program toured with Aida Cuevas and performed in 22 different venues across the U.S..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>\u201cWe hope to continue to be that beacon of inspiration for our culture, for our heritage, we are the valley, we are representing our culture throughout the United States,\u201d Guerra said.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>She said the dedication of the students, co-Director Francisco Loera and staff is what drives the program to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>\u201cIt has been my life\u2019s work,\u201dGuerra said. \u201cIt&#8217;s been a complete pleasure for me to have founded the mariachi, to developed the mariachi to have worked alongside Francisco Loera, all of our students, so it been a pleasure to work with a team\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Musical Arranger Jacob Contador is a member of Mariachi Aztl\u00e1n for more than three years. During his time he performed as a harpist, vocalist and a musical arranger for the mariachi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Contador said he took inspiration from his sister being in Aztl\u00e1n and wanted to follow in her footsteps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>\u201cOne of my favorite things in Mariachi Aztl\u00e1n, [is] being able to arrange for the group, \u2026listening to my arrangements come to life and being able to learn how [to] arrange based off experiences with the group,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Contador said he is honored to be giving his musical input to the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>\u201cListening to the rehearsal my music gives me further insight on how to improve as an arranger,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>He says his experience in Mariachi Aztl\u00e1n and the mariachi major program at UTRGV helped him improve and fosters the students\u2019 passion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information, visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.utrgv.edu\/cofa\/\">UTRGV College of Fine Arts Website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ariana Gallardo 35 years ago Mariachi Aztlan which is one of UTRGV\u2019s mariachi groups started with the inspiration<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":6909,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"yes","footnotes":""},"categories":[569,34],"tags":[68,575,44,42,26],"class_list":["post-6908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic","category-entertainment","tag-edinburg","tag-music","tag-news","tag-students","tag-utrgv"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.4 - 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