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The chords of mariachi resonated at MSU-Denver

Los acordes del mariachi resonaron en MSU-Denver

FROM PUEBLO, COLORADO | Phoenix Benavides (7 years old) member of the youth mariachi Diamantes. (Photos/Colorado Commerce)

STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ARRIVED AT THE SOUTHWEST MARIACHI CONFERENCE

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Phoenix Benavides, a seven-year-old girl with exceptional talent for the violin and singing, and member of the youth mariachi Diamante de Pueblo, Colorado, captivated those who attended the Southwest Mariachi Conference at Metro State University (MSU-Denver). Phoenix, with violin in hand, and singing Cielito Lindo, joined a dozen students who formed a mariachi in the hallways of the King Center.

Among the musicians of that mariachi was David, Phoenix’s father who plays the trumpet. It’s because Phoenix has grown up surrounded by mariachi music. Her mother plays the vihuela. At three years old, this girl could sing perfectly, in Spanish, the mariachi theme “Amor de los dos”. Her father recalls that from that moment on, she has flourished in music. She took up the violin at four years old. And now she dedicates four hours a day to perfecting her performance.

Her talent did not go unnoticed at the Southwest Mariachi Conference (SWC), where along with 259 other students, from university level and primary and secondary schools, she received music workshops from renowned artists of Mariachi Cobre. Lorenzo Trujillo, director of the Mariachi Chair at Metro State University and organizer of the event, highlighted the importance of these conferences for the growth of mariachi in Colorado.

MARIACHI MUSICIANS | Omar Olivas, Mariachi Cobre, and Lorenzo Trujillo, Mariachi Chair MSU-Denver.

Students and teachers playing together

Trujillo explained that in this edition of the SWC, they had the participation of teachers from all over the southwest United States. “Not only have the students who are part of student mariachis been enriched with knowledge. Also, teachers have come here to inspire other educators to learn how they can implement mariachi programs in their schools,” said Trujillo, violinist and founder of the student mariachi “Correcaminos”.

Another novelty of the event was the announcement of the audition program to form the new Estelar de Colorado Mariachi, composed of talented young people from across the state. Phoenix and other applicants will have the opportunity to audition by sending in a video. The 17 selected musicians will have the opportunity to open for the acclaimed group Santa Cecilia at Ruby Hill Park in Denver in September 2024.

STUDENT | William Trevizo, violinist and singer.

Garibaldi Festival

In addition to the conferences, the Southwest Mariachi Conference hosted the first Garibaldi Festival, transforming the spaces of the King Center at MSU-Denver into a vibrant plaza with 15 mariachi groups from Colorado. There, Phoenix and her family delighted the audience with their music and shared their passion for mariachi with other Mexican music enthusiasts.