2017 Region XV Mariachi Program

Texas Music Educators Association presents the REGION XV -ion MARIACHI CONCERT 2017 Saturday, April 8, 2017 Valley View High School 6:30 PM

Concert Program Middle School Group B Monedita de Oro Tu Solo Tu Amor de los Dos Volver, Volver Karina Lopez, Clinician Middle School Group A Pueblo Nuevo Amor de un Rato Lo Nuestro Fue Un Sueño Sin Verte Jimmy Cuellar, Clinician High School B El Framboyan Leña de Pirul Tre Presumo Cuando Lloran Los Hombres Marcos Garcia, Clinician High School A La Calandria Como Yo Te Ame Ella Volvio Pajaro Cu Joe Baca, Clinician Violin Huapango Homenaje a Don José “Pepe” Martinez

Middle School Group A Group B VIOLIN VIOLIN Ernesto Saldaña Roma MS anne diaz Grulla MS Julie hernandez Ramiro Barrera MS annika longoria Grulla MS hector ramirez Ramiro Barrera MS enya guzman Grulla MS bridny garza Grulla MS luis guerrero B.L. Gray MS jose alvarez Grulla MS jose sanchez B.L. Garza MS adrianna martinez Roma MS alejandro cardoza jr. Grulla MS sindianeli perez Roma MS daniel santiago ramirez De Zavala MS jaysen garcia Austin MS vivianne gonzalez Roma MS sofia ozuna Veterans MS daniel reyes Ramiro Barrera MS ociel barrera Roma MS alec vasquez Ringgold MS alexia aguillon Roma MS francisco garcia jr. Roma MS Trumpet Trumpet juan garcia jr. Roma MS Alan Garcia Veterans MS hernan tamez Veterans MS Allen Diaz Grulla MS juan alaniz Ramiro Barrera MS Elias Oviedo Veterans MS HARP Harp Jacob Cruz Roma MS Jacob cruz Roma MS GuitarrÓn GuitarrÓn sebastian perez Ramiro Barrera MS Ryan Saenz Veterans MS marte salinas Roma MS Elian Villarreal Grulla MS Vihuela Vihuela adan vanegas Grulla MS Sergio Narvaez Veterans MS Edgardo Garcia Ramiro Barrera MS Cesar Rios Roma MS Guitar Guitar Juan SAlinas Roma MS Eric Santana Roma MS Marielena Chapa Roma MS Ruben Reyes Ramiro Barrera MS diego soto Veterans MS Jordan Lazo Ringgold MS SOPRANO SOPRANO velia canales Veterans MS Kassandra FAlcon Veterans MS ALTO ALTO victoria garza Ringgold MS Victoria Garza Ringgold MS

High School Group A Group B VIOLIN VIOLIN Aaron Sepulveda Roma HS osvaldo grimaldo Roma Hs Jose Luis Torres Edinburg North Hs juliana flores PSJA HS Jesus Saenz Roma HS cindy salinas Roma HS wendy lagunes Grulla Hs oscar soto Rio Grande City HS osvaldo quintero PSJA HS arely molina Roma HS alex trevino McAllen HS david aleman Sharyland HS julian fernandez Roma HS anyssa renteria Roma HS cristian contreras McAllen HS denise carriaga Edinburg North HS adela fleming Rowe HS priscilla espinoza Edinburg North HS geneseis leal Grulla HS jennifer arriaga PSJA Memorial HS ramiro raya Economedes HS melany martinez PSJA HS Trumpet Trumpet Neri Fuentes McAllen HS adrian martinez Rio Grande City HS Andres BArrientos Roma HS cesar tovar Economedes HS Christopher Echavarria McAllen HS victor hinojosa Grulla HS HARP HARP homer flores Roma HS mario sosa Sharyland HS GuitarrÓn GuitarrÓn jaime corona Edinburg North HS maximiliano hernandez Valley View HS felipe hinojosa Roma HS alan maciel McAllen HS Vihuela Vihuela juan luis gonzalez Roma HS alejandro hernandez Valley View HS edward barrera Grulla HS jesus cantu Rio Grande City HS Guitar Guitar pedro garcia Valley View HS Hector Zuñiga Roma HS damian figueroa Rio Grande City HS gilberto rio Valley View HS dante figueroa Rio Grande City HS rossvelt flores Grulla HS SOPRANO SOPRANO elvia padron Robert Vela HS jackelyn barrera Roma HS . ALTO ALTO Alexa Posas Roma HS kamryn ramirez McAllen HS

Joe Baca I grew up in Albuquerque, NM and started out my musical career like many U.S. children do, in the public school classroom. In middle school orchestra, playing violin, I learned how important funda- mentals are to playing any instrument. I was then lucky enough to attend the only high school that had a Mariachi program at the time. I fell in love with Armonía and picked up guitar, vihuela and guitarrón on the side. At the time I was also lucky enough to have extremely good private mentors and was able to secure excellent instructors till I nished college. In Albuquerque I studied under Master Guitarist Darryl Dominguez and the assistant concertmaster of the New Mexico Symphony, the late Maestro Joseph Zoeckler. In 2003 I moved to the El Paso/Las Cruces area for college where I studied under the current conductor of the Juárez Symphony, Maestro Guillermo Quezada and briey with the retired concertmaster of the El Paso Symphony, Maestro Laurence Gibson. In El Paso, I spent 10 years teaching both violin and guitar privately and perform- ing with Mariachi Los Arrieros de El Paso, TX all over the United States and Mexico, even for the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.. I eventually served as violin section leader for Los Arrieros as well as transcribed, arranged & composed for the group and for performances with artists such as Paloma de Rio and Little Joe y La Familia. Along with performing, my last ve years in El Paso were spent teaching music in the Socorro Independent School District. I was put in charge of all Mariachi educa- tion for the El Dorado Feeder Pattern and doubled the size of the program in just a few years, as well as increased district and community awareness by conducting concerts, festivals, workshops and even recording the rst album in the program’s history. In 2012 the opportunity arose to audition for the Walt Disney Company and Mariachi Cobre. Since 2013, I have had the privilege of being a part of this ensemble as well as performing across the country and at Disney World’s EPCOT. I continue to write music under the mentorship of our musical director Steve Carrillo and have written for educational conferences, universities, Pop music icon Vikki Carr, as well as the Walt Disney Company. Most recently, I collaborated and co-authored an original piece with Steve Carrillo for a local TV and radio broadcast. I currently serve as the violin section leader for Mariachi Cobre and reside in Orlando, FL with my wife Yvette, our son Joshua Joe Baca and our two Labradors, Melody & Harmony.

Marcos Garcia Marcos Gaona Garcia began his musical career at the early age of 12. Mastering uency on a variety of instruments throughout this career, he currently ourishes on the Mariachi genre. Garcia’s strong respect and appreciation for Mariachi music is exemplied through his works. Combined with his musical knowledge and performing experience, he developed a passion for Mariachi music he hopes others will soon share. Marcos received a Bachelor’s degree from Our Lady of the Lake University, in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas. He is currently certied as a Generalist Educator, as well as an All-Level Music Specialist. Garcia has an extensive teaching resume that ranges from pre-school through college. He has been teaching Mariachi Music since 1996. Garcia quickly gained acknowledgements as a reputable Mariachi instructor throughout San Antonio and surrounding cities. He taught in San Antonio, Southwest, Northside, and South San Antonio Independent School Districts. Marcos’s versatility challenged him to new heights, as he then directed groups at the college level. He worked 3 years as the Mariachi Director for Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, as well as 3 years directing Texas State University’s award-winning Mariachi in San Marcos. Garcia gained profes- sional directing experience after accepting the role of Musical Director for the all-female Mariachi Las Alteñas of San Antonio. After nding his way to the Rio Grande Valley, Garcia is currently the head director of one of the most prominent Mariachi programs in Texas: Edcouch-Elsa Independent School District. With over 15 years of performing experience, Marcos Garcia has an extensive list of prestigious venues on his resume. Memorable career highlights include performances at: the White House for President Bush, the Kennedy Center, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Walt Disney Center Concert Hall. Garcia has toured numerous locations across the United States including: Texas, Califor- nia, Florida, Nevada, and Washington D.C. Playing professionally by the age of 14, Marcos quickly gained status amongst Texas’ top groups. He performed as a lead trumpet player with the award- winning Mariachi Festival de Oscar Garza for 7 years. Garcia then joined the nationally recognized Campanas De America, where he found a role as a violinist for 7 more years. During his nal 2 years with Campanas, he served as an Assistant Musical Director for the group. Currently, Marcos is in his 8th year as a violinist for the world-renowned Mariachi Los Arrieros del Valle. is high-octane show-group has transcended boundaries beyond cultures. Garcia is very humbled and proud to be part of an ensemble of such caliber.

Jimmy Cuellar Composer, arranger, multi- instrumentalist, three time Grammy Award nominated and three time Grammy Award Winner, Mr. Cuellar was the violin, guitarron, vihuela, guitar, and guitarra de golpe performer for Mariachi Los Cam- peros de Nati Cano for over ten years. He has accompanied Latin recording artists: Yolanda del Rio, Mercedes Castro, Humberto Herrera, Lila Downs, Vikki Carr, Aida Cuevas, Eugenia Leon, and Jose Feliciano. Jimmy has recorded on various productions, including the 2010 release of Ry Cooder and e Chie- ftains, San Patricio. His honors and awards include: Featured artist on the 2005 Grammy Award-winning album, cELLAbration: A Tribute to Ella Jenkins, the 2006 Grammy Nominated album \"Best Mexican Album,\" Llegaron Los Camperos: Concert Favorites of Nati Cano's Mariachi Los Camperos, the 2008 Grammy Award-winning album for “Best Mexican Album,” Cien Por Ciento Mexicano by Pepe Aguilar, and the 2009 Grammy Award “Best Regional Mexican Album,” Amor, Dolor, y Lagrimas. Mr. Cuellar received his Bach- elor of Arts Degree from California State University, Long Beach Bob Cole Conservatory of Music in 2009, and is currently completing a Master in Music at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jimmy Cuellar

Karina Lopez Karina was born in Edinburg, Texas and began her venture learning violin technique and style at Betty Harwell Middle School Orchestra under Dr. Martha Kyle, and pursued her violin study with the Johnny G. Economedes High School orchestra and mariachi. Karina graduated top ten of her class and was awarded a full paid scholarship at the University of Texas Pan American where she earned her Bachelors degree in music. Karina later became the orchestra director of Betty Harwell Middle School and three years later was mariachi director and assistant orchestra director at Robert Vela High School. Karina is memorable for her vibrant enthusiasm and positive motivation to all of her students and loved being part of various music organizations like the Valley Symphony Orchestra and Chorale, Mariachi Aztlan, Mariachi Azucenas, Mariachi Mariposas, and the UTPA Film Society. Karina is a violinist/vocalist with Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles under the direction of Maestro Jose Hernandez, founder and director of Mariachi Sol de Mexico and Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles. She also substitute teaches for the Burbank Unified School District as an instruc- tional aid for the Special Education department and substitutes for the growing mariachi programs in Santa Ana, California under the Mariachi Heritage Academy established by Jose Hernandez. She currently co-manages a recording studio in Studio City, California named eBlock- PartyStudios under the Official Entertainment Group established by DJ Noble. Karina Lopez

Three-time Grammy Nominated Mariachi Los Arrieros del Valle 956-739-6274 or 956-492-9033|[email protected] |arrieromusic on YouTube iTunes: Mariachi Los Arrieros del Valle | Facebook: Mariachi Los Arrieros



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Don José “Pepe” Martinez 1941-2016 TMEA Region 15 Mariachi directors and students would like to pay homage to José Martínez Barajas, better known as Don Pepe and longtime musical director of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán. gh Don Pepe was the musical director for Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, regarded as “El Mejor Mariachi del Mundo” or “The World’s Greatest Mariachi”. He was a composer, arranger and violinist and led Mariachi Vargas from 1975 until he stepped down as director in 2014. After stepping down, he continued to work with the ensemble as a musical member of the group. He was born on June 27, 1941, in Tecalitlán, Jalisco, México. His father was a musician and this allowed him to begin his musical studies as a young child. By the age of 12, he was playing alongside his father in the mariachi group of the Mexican Army. It was not long before General Bonifacio Salinas noticed his talent and awarded him a scholarship to study violin with concert violinist Ignacio Camarena for three years; however, his apprenticeship ended early. His virtuoso teacher felt that young Pepe was already playing at the level of professional violinists and required no more lessons. After a few years, Don Pepe found himself living in Mexico City where he began playing with Mariach Perla de Occidente. This mariachi was seen as training for famous groups, including Mariachi Vargas. While playing with this group, he was able to gain experience recording and working with singers like Javier Solis. In 1961, Don Pepe returned to Guadalajara where he joined Maria- chi Los Tecolotes. It was during this time, that he was able to record his first musical arrangements. Later that year, he moved to Southern California where he stayed for five years as a member of Mariachi Aguila, which at the time was considered one of the two best mariachi groups in the United States. In 1966, he returned to Guadalajara where he formed the now legendary Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán. It was with this group that he was able to make a name for himself as an arranger while recording 500 original arrangements on over 100 long-playing records. In 1975, he joined Mariachi Vargas. It was with Vargas that his skills as a composer and arranger reached a high point. His influence over Mariachi Vargas and mariachi music in general was immense. Many of his original pieces, including Violin Huapango, Fiesta del Mariachi, El Viajero, and Viva Veracruz – among many others – have become standards throughout the mariachi world at the amateur and professional levels. Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán is now directed by Carlos Martínez, nephew of Don Pepe. Don Jose “Pepe” Martinez was and will continue to be one of the greats of the mariachi music genre.