A LIVELY CONCERT

By
Helen Burlingham

 

 

The MARIACHI AGUILAS almost raised the roof of the Mount Vernon Music Hall on Sunday afternoon, April 20th, when they played and sang a lively program of traditional mariacho music to a crowd of enthusaistic East Texas music lovers.  Mark Miller, founder and President of Mount Vernon Music, welcomed the audience both in English and Spanish (with help from a translator).

The group, whose name means "eagles" is the first ever mariachi at the University of North Texas in Denton and is made up of graduate and undergraduate students from many departments of UNT.  Under the direction of founder,Danny Cantu, who hails from San Antonio where he started his music carreer at an early age as a trmpeter and singer, the group performs for UNT, at mariachi competitions, and for private functions.  On trumpet with Danny was James Kerr, on violins, Bethany Hardwick, Krish Tollefson, Miguel Cantu, Elizabeth Sosa. Travis Hernandez, Claudio Arvizo, and on armonia (guitar, guitarrion, and vihuela) Eduardo Cantu, Sergio Palacios, James Gonzalez, Alexia Quintero, Jesse Pineda, and Melinda Ocampo.

 

Pepe Guizar's Guadalajara, Alvaro Carillo's Sabor A Mi, La Bamba, Celito Lindo, Alla En El Ranch Grande, Miguel Mejia's Malaguena, and Frankie Valli's Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You are only a few numbers of vocal and instrumental solos, duets, and vocals and instrumentals by the entire ensemble, all of whom were beautifully and handsomely garbed in traditional mariachi outfits.  They had feet tapping and hands clapping for the entire two-hour program.

 

Following the concert, a reception for the performers and audience was held at the Family Life Center of Sacred Heart Catholic Church where a delicious Tex-Mex buffet continued the mariachi flavor of the day.  Thanks Mark and Uta Miller and Mount Vernon Music for bringing such a treat to the area.