Mariachi de Humboldt to perform debut concert
The Humboldt State University School of Dance, Music, and Theatre will present the debut concert of its newest ensemble, Mariachi de Humboldt, codirected by Norverto Angón Gonzales and Jennifer Trowbridge, in a live event also featuring the HSU Guitar Ensemble, on Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. in Fulkerson Recital Hall.
In addition to this 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.
Admission is $10 general, $5 for children and free to HSU students with ID.
For many years, students, teachers, administrators and community members have wanted to create a mariachi ensemble on the HSU campus, and this dream has now 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, and Social Sciences, Dean Rosamel Benevides-Garb, El Centro Académico Cultural de HSU, the HSU School of Dance, Music, and Theatre, guitar instructor Jennifer Trowbridge, plus 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.
An impressive list of additional campus and community members participating in this multi-year development process includes Fernando Paz, Norverto “Norbi” Angón Gonzales, Cindy Moyer, Karen Davy, Linda Maxwell, Jeff O’Connor, Elizabeth Rivera, Gladys Arrechiga, as well as HSU students Nick De Anda, Anele Martinez and Grant Hempy.
Mariachi de Humboldt’s current 20 members range widely from students preparing for professional music careers to students who began the semester as complete beginners, 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. Hear them rehearsing on Fridays from 1 to 2:50 p.m., in or outside of HSU Music Building A.
Mariachi de Humboldt stands (and sings) for equity and inclusion. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit the HSU student scholarship fund. To purchase tickets, go to https:// commerce.cashnet.com/ humboldthmo?CNAME =MUSIC+1. For more information, contact the HSU School of Dance, Music, and Theatre at 707-826-3566 or mus@humboldt.edu.