| Mariachi de Uclatlán Wins First and Second Place in Two Major Mariachi Competitions | | Print | |
Published: December 15, 2011 The highly acclaimed Mariachi de Uclatlán won first place on October 30, 2011 at the Anaheim Mariachi Festival Competition at Pearson Park Amphitheater in Anaheim, California. The first place prize included a check for $2,000 plus a 25-hour CD recording package. On October 2, participating in their first international competition, Mariachi de Uclatlán tied for second place in the Second Annual Rosarito Beach International Mariachi and Folklorico Festival in Rosarito, Mexico. This event took place at the Rosarito Beach Hotel where the group competed with six other mariachi groups from the United States and Mexico. For both events they performed "El Pasajero," "Pa Que Sientas Lo Que Siento" and "Jarocho". Mariachi de Uclatlán members include Ben Beiza (UCLA alumnus, English), Louis Galicia (current student, Rio Hondo College), Kenya Garay (current student, CSU Fullerton), Gabriela Martinez (USC alumna), Jazmin Morales (current B.A. student, Ethnomusicology, UCLA), Ricardo Munguia (current member of Mark Fogelquist's Mariachi Chula Vista), Miguel Pasillas (B.A. '11 Ethnomusicology, UCLA), Marcos Ruedas (B.A. '11 Ethnomusicology, UCLA), Lauryn Salazar (Ph.D. '11 Ethnomusicology, UCLA), Vanessa Sanchez (B.A. '11 Ethnomusicology, UCLA), and Jessie Vallejo (current Ph.D. student, Ethnomusicology, UCLA). According to Miguel Pasillas, "our hard work and determination paid off and we were able to achieve our goals." Lauryn Salazar states, "now that we have reached our first place goal, we are looking forward to planning our 50th anniversary celebration." Mariachi de Uclatlán was born under the auspices of the Ethnomusicology Department's Music of Mexico Ensemble, currently taught by the Grammy Award-winning musician Jesús Guzmán. Mr. Guzmán is the artistic director of the world-renowned Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, and has been the formal instructor of the Music of Mexico Ensemble since the fall of 2000. In the Nahuatl language of Mexico, "tlán" means "land." By placing UCLA in front of "tlán," the name of the group translates to Mariachi from the Land of UCLA. For more information go to: Mariachi de Uclatlán website
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