Mariachi festival at San Antonio's Fiesta honors heritage and boasts cultural identity
Fiesta Fun: Mariachi Orgullo's Charm at the Ford Mariachi Festival
SACHA PFEIFFER, HOST:
It's Fiesta time in San Antone, y'all! And one of the highlights of this traditional spring celebration is none other than the Ford Mariachi Festival unfolding on the city's famous River Walk. Let's hop on over and check things out, shall we?
(SOUNDBITE OF TRAFFIC)
JACK MORGAN, BYLINE: San Antonio's downtown's set up like a two-tiered wonderland. The upper level's brimming with city life and energy, while below 15 feet is the river level where tourists cruise along the twisting, mile-and-a-half river loop packed with hotels and eateries.
This week, I took the plunge, venturing down to the river to catch a glimpse of some Mariachi action. See, high school kids from various schools were milling about, strumming guitars, violins, guitarrons, trumpets, and more, waiting for their turn to shine. The sky was brooding, a cloud heavy with rain threatening to burst.
JASON THIBODEAUX: Yo soy Jason Thibodeaux. Soy el director de orquestas de Churchill High School y conduzco también el Mariachi Orgullo de Churchill High School.
MORGAN: That dude right there with the guitar? Our man Jason Thibodeaux, Director of Orchestras at Churchill High School and conductor of the Mariachi Orgullo. He explained that his students, a mix of traditional family heritage and fresh newcomers to the scene, came up with the idea for the mariachi club.
THIBODEAUX: Para algunos de nuestros niños, esto es cómo se relacionan con sus pasados o sus propias tradiciones. Y luego para algunos de nuestros niños como mí, están aprendiendo una nueva tradición.
MORGAN: Now, before we dive in, let's set the scene: mariachi clubs are elective music programs at school, happening after regular classroom hours. Carlos Sifuentes, for instance, strums the five-string vihuela, a sorta bigger ukulele or guitar minus the top E string.
CARLOS SIFUENTES: Preferimos que las personas se lo expliquen así: un vihuela tiene la forma de una guitarra más grande pero sin la cuerda E superior.
MORGAN: For Carlos, playing mariachi music is a journey into a past he's never known, one that embraces him with a deep sense of pride as a first-generation Hispanic teenager.
CARLOS: Como un orgulloso adolescente hispano-americano, incorporarme al Mariachi Orgullo de Churchill fue sin duda uno de los mejores decisiones que podía haber tomado con mis años de secundaria.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
MORGAN: As river barges pulled to a stop, mariachi bands started playing, their music echoing through the crowd gathered around the horseshoe bend. Miss Azul Ruiz sang along with her bandmates, having been busy playing since fifth grade.
AZUL RUIZ: Soy actualmente de la Ciudad de México y mi abuelo era un compositor, y mi padre cantaba en mariachis.
MORGAN: Growing up in Mexico City, Azul is part of a long line of mariachi musicians in her family. And if you ask her, her mariachi teacher, Mr. T, played a role in shaping her future plans, inspiring her to pursue art education.
AZUL: Me inspira mucho mi maestro, Mr. T. Porque pone toda su dedicación en esto, como una obra de arte fino.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
MORGAN: Sara Moore played the violin as she joined the mariachi club during her sophomore year. The allure of the music, combined with her curiosity, led her to explore this new facet of culture.
SARA MOORE: Comencé la orquesta en el sexto grado, y continué ese compromiso a lo largo de toda la secundaria, y luego me incorporé al programa de mariachi de Churchill durante mi segundo año.
MORGAN: As we boarded the barges, ready for the performance route, I couldn't help but feel the energy, excitement, and cultural pride radiating from the students. And if you stopped by, there'd be ballet folklórico dancers joining the festivities, too!
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
MORGAN: Maria Tijerina was one of many who came to watch.
MARIA TIJERINA: Este tipo de actividad es genial para ayudarles a obtener éxito, no solo en su escuela, sino también en su comunidad y incluso en sus familias y en un futuro más allá de eso.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
MORGAN: And as the raincloud moved on, the kiddos got back to the business of entertainin', showin' off their skills to the thousands of onlookers who'd come out for the Fiesta Ford Mariachi Festival.
On the Riverwalk, I'm Jack Morgan, signing off for NPR. Adios, amigos!
(SOUNDBITE OF ADANNA DURU SONG, "POP!")
- San Antonio's downtown offers a unique two-tiered setup, with city life and energy on the upper level, and tourist attractions like hotels and eateries by the river below.
- During the Ford Mariachi Festival, high school students from various schools flock to the River Walk, strumming guitars, violins, and other instruments, waiting for their opportunity to perform.
- Mariachi clubs are elective music programs at high schools, occurring after regular classroom hours, allowing students to learn and perform traditional Mexican music.
- The Mariachi Orgullo, led by Director of Orchestras Jason Thibodeaux, is a club at Churchill High School, where students of diverse backgrounds come together to form a distinct cultural bond.
- For many students, being part of a mariachi club provides a connection to their heritage, while for others it offers an introduction to a new tradition.
- Mariachi music provides opportunities for personal growth, as demonstrated by students like Carlos Sifuentes and Azul Ruiz, who have found a sense of pride and identity through the art form.
- The Fiesta Ford Mariachi Festival is an event that fosters not only education and self-development but also community engagement, introducing participants to new cultural experiences and offering opportunities for collaboration, such as ballet folklórico dancing.
