2/18/2004 - Lubbock Centro Aztlan presents it’s 10th annual Viva Aztlan Festival

March 12 & 13: Lubbock Centro Aztlan presents it’s 10th annual Viva Aztlan Festival at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. The event will include Folkloric Dance Troupes and Mariachi competition of groups from throughout Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Oklahoma. Individual students are welcome to attend dance and mariachi workshops. Mariachi students must have advanced working knowledge of their instruments. $20 admission to workshops for people not in competing groups. Admission to Festival $3 per day: Children under 12 and Senior Citizens $2. For more information call 806-793-0099.

News Story for Newspapers, school or agency newsletters.
For more information call Zenaida Aguero-Reyes at 793-0099 or
Bidal Aguero at 741-0371.

World Renown “Maestros” to Teach Mariachi and Dance Workshops at 10th Annual Viva Aztlan Festival on March 12th and 13th at Lubbock Civic Center.

Organizers of the Viva Aztlan Festival announced today that members of the world renown “Los. Caporales” from San Antonio, Texas have been contracted to conduct workshops in various instruments including violin, trumpet, guitar and voice. Founded in 1993, by Director Roy Quintero, Mariachi Los Caporales is one of the most popular Mariachi groups in America. Mariachi Los Caporales consists of an eleven-piece ensemble. The group’s main focus - to preserve the rich, vibrant, traditional style - has rewarded Los Caporales with national recognition. The uniqueness of Mariachi Los Caporales is attributed to their strong voices, precision, harmony, execution and musical arrangements. While making use of influences from new contemporary styles; the group maintains the traditional rhythms of Mariachi music.

Mariachi Los Caporales have just completed their second CD, entitled “Corazon de Papel” which is scheduled for release in February of 2003. Their first CD was produced in 1999, under the MKL Global Music label, entitled “Jamas, Jamas”.

Mariachi Los Caporales are constantly being invited to perform throughout the US. In addition, they are very proud of being asked back season after season to perform at Six Flags, Fiesta Texas in San Antonio since 1995.

“We are overjoyed to be able to allow students of West Texas the opportunity to study mariachi music with these instructors or ‘maestros’ as they are known in the Latino music world.” said Bidal Aguero, founder of the Viva Aztlan Festival. He added that event organizers were
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especially excited that this will be made available during the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Festival. “In celebration of our 10th anniversary we have expanded our Festival to include Mariachi competition as an added venue to our Ballet Folklorico competition.

Lubbock Cenro Aztlan, sponsor of the Viva Aztlan Festival, has organized the yearly festival at which up to 20 folklorico dance troupes from throughout the Southwestern United States and Mexico have competed for awards and the coveted nationally recognized “Best of Festival Trophy.” An equal amount of dance troupes are expected this year. The dance troupes and mariachi groups will perform throughout the two day festival and will be judged by expert judges in different categories including technique, choreography and costumes.

In addition to the competition, students in both dance and mariachi, will be allowed the opportunity to participate in workshops. This year individual students that are not members of organized groups will be invited to attend workshops for a minimal fee of $20. Group discounts are available. Mariachi students must have practical knowledge and possession of their own instruments.

The public is invited to attend the competition during the day for a admission fee of $3 per day. Up to 10 groups will compete in each category each day. The Festival is capped off by a Saturday evening Spectacular featuring the Mexican folkoric dance troupe, Dallas 2000, the winner of the dance competion last year plus a performance by the Mariachi groups that attended the event. More information about the event can be obtained by e-mailing to: rey24@sbcglobal.net or by calling 806-793-0099. Tickets for the event will be available each day of the event at the Civic Center Box office ce.

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