MIDLAND, Texas — After several days of learning from experienced mariachi musicians, students performed a genre of Mexican music in front of the Midland community on Friday night. The Hispanic Cultural Center of Midland held its 17th Annual Mariachi Workshop this week, all culminating in the Noche de Mariachi Concert.
Students of all ages took to the stage to put on a show, creating common themes from this part of their tradition.
“I’m very passionate about mariachi music. It just happened to me, but I wanted to share my passion with everyone,” said violinist Arya Melendez.
Playing the mariachi gives Melendez depth to the music.
“I feel like I’m Mexican or someone who likes mariachi music. [are] I am very happy,” Melendez said. [are] various genres of it.there is [are] sad people there [are] happy people there [are] It’s just music that tells stories about people’s lives, and I think that’s pretty cool. ”
For trumpeter and vocalist Noel Zapata, mariachi is all that and more.
“Every Mexican you meet knows mariachi somehow. It’s like a part of the genre, it’s kind of an emotion, it’s almost an emotion,” Zapata said.
The emotion found in the mariachi is Zapata’s favorite part.
“I think it’s an emotion,” Melendez said. [are] With so many different types of mariachi music, it’s a lot of fun to sing as well as play. That part is cool too. ”
At Vihuela, Zarahi Rodea enjoys energizing the audience.
“I love playing for people and seeing the excitement on their faces. It makes me really happy,” Rodea said.
Reflecting what Rodea’s peers had said about mariachis, the emotion reached its peak again.
“Mariachi is really special. It makes you feel so many emotions when you listen to it.
For Hispanic traditions, mariachis seem to serve as an emotional soundtrack.
Melendez, Zapata, and Rodea all mentioned how the workshop helped them improve their mariachi skills. Meléndez said the workshop gave her more confidence, saying that this was the third time Zapata had attended the workshop and that it had a special place in her heart. in, she said.