The Department of Theatre, Film & Dance is proud to present the debut concert of its newest ensemble, Mariachi de Humboldt, co-directed by Norverto Angón Gonzales and Jennifer Trowbridge. In addition to this historic concert, the music department will feature a display in the lobby of the principal mariachi instruments along with information on how to sign up for beginning guitar, strings, voice, and brass classes in Spring 2022.
The HSU Guitar Ensemble will open the concert, performing music from Spain, Argentina, Mexico, and Greece as well as two works by Texas composer Mark Anthony Cruz and two jazz standards. Mariachi de Humboldt will perform traditional works from Mexico, as well as “El Rey” by José Alfredo Jiménez, and “Cerca del Mar” by Ezequiel Cisneros Cárdenas.
For many years, students, teachers, administrators, and community members have wanted to create a mariachi ensemble on the HSU campus, and finally this dream has become a reality. As a Hispanic Serving Institution, HSU is committed to offering curriculum that strongly embodies the campus identity and reflects its diversity. Thanks to the efforts of the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, Dean Rosamel Benevides-Garb, El Centro Académico Cultural de HSU, the Department of Theatre, Film & Dance, guitar instructor Jennifer Trowbridge, and many students and alumni, Mariachi de Humboldt has grown from a campus club to a weekly social gathering of musicians called Tertulia de Mariachi to an official performing ensemble and credited class on the HSU campus. Mariachi de Humboldt stands (and sings) for equity and inclusion.
An impressive list of additional campus and community members participated in this multi-year development process, including Fernando Paz, Norverto “Norbi” Angón Gonzales, Cindy Moyer, Karen Davy, Linda Maxwell, Jeff O’Connor, Elizabeth Rivera, Gladys Arrechiga, Nick De Anda, Anele Martinez, and Grant Hempy.
Mariachi de Humboldt’s current 20 members include experienced and beginning students, as well as a few faculty and community members. Through support from Dean Benevides-Garb, the ensemble now has two guitarróns and two vihuelas, all custom-built by a luthier in Mexico. Mariachi de Humboldt is more than an ensemble: it is the feeling of home for HSU students majoring in music, geology, environmental science and management, wildlife, and psychology.
You can hear Mariachi de Humboldt rehearsing on Fridays 1–2:50 p.m., in or outside of HSU Music Building A.
Proceeds from ticket sales benefit the HSU student scholarship fund. Mariachi de Humboldt and Guitar Ensemble, Friday, Nov. 12 in Fulkerson Recital Hall. $10 General, $5 Child, FREE for HSU students with ID. Purchase tickets online.