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News • New Mexico • United States • 2011-10-22

Mariachi Conference Brings Concerts and Workshops to Las Cruces

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Musicians from all across the U.S. and Mexico will once again descend upon New Mexico State University for the 18th Annual Las Cruces International Mariachi Conference (LCIMC), to take place Nov. 9-13, 2011.

The LCIMC brings in about 800 participants every year for several days of music and dance workshops. The conference ends with a weekend of concerts by area musicians and world-class talent, in performances at the Pan American Center at NMSU.

The workshops will begin Thursday, Nov. 10, and they run all day Thursday and Friday. They are taught by some of the world\'s top mariachi musicians, as well as regional musicians with many years of experience.

Jesus Morales, director of local group Mariachi Real de Chihuahua, is teaching his first workshop this year. However, Morales has been a part of the LCIMC for many years.

\"The Conference has been great experience for me,\" Morales said. \"I have been fortunate enough to be a participant of this event in almost every aspect of it: workshops, jam sessions, Student Showcase and other festivities.\"

Students from all over Las Cruces, including many from NMSU look forward to attending the conference. Many of them started playing mariachi music in middle school or high school, and have attended the LCIMC for many years.

Dominique Chavez, a freshman at NMSU, said she likes going to the conference to play music and attend the jam sessions.

\"Other than playing, I really like getting together with everyone else that I don\'t normally see throughout the year,\" Chavez said.

Fellow NMSU freshman Miguel Medrano agreed saying, \"My favorite thing about attending the conference is seeing a variety of people who love Mariachi and getting to befriend them in the process.\"

Stephanie Gonzales, a nursing major at NMSU, said she looks forward to meeting new people at the conference.

\"My favorite this about the conference is getting to network with other people from all around the country as well as get to see old friends,\" Gonzales said. \"It\'s a great way to meet people who have the same passion as you do.\"

The concerts start Friday night with the Student Showcase Concert at the Pan American Center. Mariachi groups, vocalists and folkloric dance groups audition for the chance to perform in front of over 5,000 people. On Saturday night, two favorites of the LCIMC, Mariachi Cobre and Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez, take the stage along with headliner Vikki Carr for the Spectacular Concert.

The conference concludes on Sunday, beginning with the Mariachi Mass, a ceremonial event drawing over 7,000 people of all denominations annually, with liturgical music provided by Mariachi Cobre. The festivities then continue with Mariachis y Mas Fiesta filling the rest of the day with performances by mariachis and folkloric dancers. Mariachis y Mas takes place on the Mesilla Plaza from noon to 5:00 p.m., and is free and open to the public.

For ticket information for the Student Showcase Concert and the Spectacular Concert, call the LCIMC office at 575-525-1735, the Pan American Ticket Office at 575-646-1420, or Ticketmaster at 915-544-8444 or go to www.lascrucesmariachi.org.

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