By: Nyria Melchor
Once again, Mariachi Spectacular lived up to its name and long-standing reputation as one of the premier mariachi music conferences in the country. This past July 6 – 10, 2011, hundreds of students from across the country attended the 21st annual Mariachi Spectacular to learn from the many masters who come together year after year to impart their unique knowledge to the next generation of mariachi musicians.
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Clark From L to R: José Hernández, Rubén Fuentes, Miguel Martínez, Rigoberto Alfaro, Jesús Rodríguez de Híjar, and Guadalupe González.
For some, the highlight of this year’s conference was the induction of Maestro Rubén Fuentes to the International Mariachi Hall of Fame on Saturday, July 9. For students and aficionados alike, Maestro Fuentes’ presence was nothing short of a historical moment. Earlier in the week, Jonathan Clark, mariachi music historian and lecturer at Stanford University, delivered a presentation to conference attendees detailing Maestro Fuentes’ illustrious legacy as a composer, arranger, musical director, producer and – above all – a visionary who has done more than any other individual to revolutionize the mariachi genre. Delving into his trove of rare primary source material, Clark presented the students with a unique perspective of mariachi music research and scholarship. “Beyond any doubt, Rubén Fuentes is the most important musical figure in the history of mariachi music,” Clark concluded. “I’m quite humbled to have been asked to do a presentation on him, and even more so in the presence of the maestro himself.”
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Mariachi for Gringos II by Gil Sperry
Diversity is good, isn’t it? To me this seems self-evident, so I’m sometimes confused by the resentment I see from people who are afraid of their world changing around them. Maybe they’re just being protective. I suppose that’s understandable; it’s natural to fear what one does not know: “Take this, eat it, don’t ask me what it is, just eat it, you’ll like it, trust me.” Yeah, right. Ramp that up to a societal level, and sure, I understand the anxiety. When you grow up in a neighborhood where 90% of the people have your same skin color and everyone speaks your language, who wouldn’t feel uncomfortable being told they should learn Spanish if they want to shop at the farmer’s market on the corner? “Really? Why am I the one who has to learn their language? If they want to speak Spanish let them go to their own country!”
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Group Name: Mariachi Pancho Villa
Year of Foundation: 1995
Director’s Name: Henry Meneses
Musical Director’s Name: Henry Meneses
City: West Palm Beach
State: Florida
Country: Unites States
Serenata Mariachi (SM): Henry Meneses, from Mariachi Pancho Villa, welcome to Serenata Mariachi.
(HM): One of the best known bands of traditional Mexican music in Florida is “MARIACHI PANCHO VILLA”. As a group, Mariachi Pancho Villa has been in existence for well over 15 years. Since its beginning in 1995 Mariachi Pancho Villa has displayed an enthusiasm in its music, performing, professionalism and dedication which it has established itself as a leader in its genre under the direction of its founder and bandleader Henry Meneses. Mariachi Pancho Villa not only plays traditional Mexican Music they also play Instrumental, Classical, Cumbias, Sones, Polkas, international, and more, Entertaining and arranging events according to customer needs and wants.
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