El Son de la Gila Mariachi Conference Benefits Students and Their Mentors Alike
The sounds of mariachi music could be heard throughout the western part of the WNMU campus June 4-7, as the university hosted El Son de la Gila, its annual mariachi conference. Drawing students and their mariachi directors from across the southwest, the conference provided an opportunity for high school students to learn from master mariachis, and it allowed their group leaders to network and learn from each other. Organizing the conference was a group effort, involving not only WNMU music faculty and staff, but also the members of the university’s mariachi group, Mariachi Plata de WNMU. One member of the Mariachi Plata de WNMU, guitar player Jesus Mendoza, said that he and his fellow group members assisted with the classes. “We are like substitute teachers for the maestros that came to teach here,” said Mendoza, “so we help them out with the students, translating, and making sure they have what they need.” Mendoza, who has been playing guitar for ten years, said that...