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News • New Mexico • United States • 2012-01-09

Local Mariachi Combines Youth with Experience for Free Anniversary Concert

Mariachi Real de Chihuahua, one of Las Cruces\' top mariachi groups, will be taking to the stage for a free concert at the historic Rio Grande Theatre on Jan. 24, 2012, at 6:30 p.m., featuring decades of combined experience.

The concert, part of the Rio Grande Theatre\'s \"Every Other Tuesday\" concert series, will also be a celebration of Mariachi Real de Chihuahua\'s 7th anniversary. Often billed as \"Las Cruces\' Premiere Mariachi,\" the group started in January 2005, and features musicians ranging in age from their late teens to their 30s.

Violinist Dominique Chavez was 17 when she joined the group a little over a year ago, but she was fulfilling a goal set years earlier.

\"Since I was 12, I always told myself that I would play in Mariachi Real,\" Chavez said. \"Five years later, I got in, so that was really exciting. It was a milestone for me.\"

Crystal Maldonado, 24, of El Paso, has been playing mariachi music for about 10 years. She said she enjoys playing with Mariachi Real because of the closeness of the group.

\"I feel that we are all playing for the same reason, because we like it, and because we enjoy it,\" Maldonado said. \"We all get along, and we all help each other musically, and on a personal level.\"

Mariachi Real de Chihuahua, like all the other mariachis in Las Cruces, is made up of both males and females. The musicians are students, educators and professionals from different walks of Las Cruces life.

The group was started in January 2005 by local musicians Jesus Morales and Wendy Martinez. From the beginning, the group began making its name known. Within the first year, they had travelled twice to Chihuahua to play, and were invited to play for Governor Richardson at his home in Santa Fe.

In the years since then, Mariachi Real has played all over southern New Mexico and El Paso, and they have made several trips to play in the Santa Fe area. Their presence every year at the Las Cruces International Mariachi Conference has earned them recognition, as they have become one of the featured groups at the LCIMC Student Showcase. Mariachi Real also received recognition from U.S. Congressman Steve Pearce after their 2011 Showcase performance.

Sonya Gutierrez-Perez, 32, has been a part of Las Cruces\' mariachi scene for several years. According to Gutierrez-Perez, even being a mother of two is not enough to slow her down from playing music with Mariachi Real de Chihuahua.

\"It\'s different from the groups I played in before, because it\'s so welcoming,\" Gutierrez-Perez said. \"It\'s wonderful to be able to continue playing. This music is who I am.\"

Miguel Medrano, 19, plays the guitarron (the bass) with Mariachi Real de Chihuahua. He felt that being given a chance to prove himself at a young age kept him motivated to improve.

\"I felt like it was a great opportunity to learn and to experience playing with musicians with great talent,\" Medrano said. \"Even though I have played with Real for some time now, I see it as an opportunity to improve and to keep learning.\"

The concert is part of the \"Every Other Tuesday\" concert series that takes place at the Rio Grande Theatre, and it is free of charge. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. at the historic theatre in downtown Las Cruces, doors open at 6.

For more information, call the Rio Grande Theatre at 575-523-6403 or go to www.riograndetheatre.com. Mariachi Real de Chihuahua\'s co-directors are Jesus Morales 575-650-0691 and Marcus Royo 575-571-2040. Search for Mariachi Real de Chihuahua on Facebook.

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