Mariachi festival draws energetic crowd and community pride

Students from Mariachi Las Aguilitas performed at Napa Valley College’s sixth annual ¡Viva Mariachi! Festival on March 21, joined by regional mariachi and folklórico groups and a lively audience.

Students from Mariachi Las Aguilitas de Davis Bilingual Elementary School performed on Saturday, March 21 at the Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center during the sixth annual ¡Viva Mariachi! Festival. A performance was also held Friday at Lyman Park in St. Helena. The program included Luther Burbank Center’s Mariachi Cantares de Mi Tierra with Ballet Folklórico from Santa Rosa and Mariachi Garibaldi from Southwestern College. The event drew a boisterous audience that cheered and asked for encores. Highlights: - Mariachi Las Aguilitas performed "Viva Mexico" with 25 elementary students wearing matching embroidered uniforms and traditional bowties and sombreros. - Audience members cheered, whistled and called out "Otra! Otra! Otra!" after performances. - Mariachi Cantares de Mi Tierra and Ballet Folklórico presented combined music and dance; Mariachi Cantares recently earned third place in the California State Fair Mariachi Competition. - Mariachi Garibaldi, an adult ensemble from Southwestern College, closed the festival and has toured internationally. - Napa Valley College officials said they hope to expand mariachi instruction and a possible certificate program and are currently seeking a mariachi instructor. Summary: The festival highlighted growing interest in mariachi music and folklórico dance in the Napa area and showcased both student and community programs. Napa Valley College leaders have stated a desire to develop formal mariachi instruction and are searching for an available instructor to support that effort.