Filling the Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall with resonant vocalism and rich cultural pride, Opera University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) hosted its sixth annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, “¡Celebración!”, on Sept. 24.
The free public event, directed and produced by Cherry Duke with Esequiel Meza Jr. serving as pianist and vocal coach, showcased an expansive global repertoire honoring Hispanic composers and traditions.
Funded with support from the department of Chicano Studies, the evening brought together students from UTEP’s opera workshop classes, collaborative instrumentalists, faculty members and esteemed guest artists.
For the university and the borderland community, the annual concert serves as a vital platform for cultural reflection, highlighting the diverse array of genres performed that night, Duke explained.
“I think everybody knows mariachi and ranchera… but we’re offering classical music primarily. We love to mix it up and tonight we are mixing it with jazz, mariachi and 21st century contemporary classical stuff that’s going to have a very different sound,” Duke said.
Because the concert falls early in the fall semester, Duke structured the audition process by asking students to prepare a solo before classes began in August.
During the first week of classes, they audition for a solo spot, leading to a talented roster this year.
“This year everyone was so excellent that everyone who auditioned is singing a solo in tonight’s performance,” Duke said.
To showcase these diverse musical identities, the program was carefully divided into regional segments.
The night opened with a preludio performance of “El herradero,” by Pedro Galindo Galarza, featuring vocals by CJ Santos and Mariachi Excelencia, along with an ensemble of flutists, violinists, trumpeters, guitarrón players and guitarists.
Transitioning to Europe, the España segment featured classical art songs and operatic excerpts. Junior voice education major Samantha Molina opened with Jacinto Valledor’s “Canción de tímida,” followed by sophomore voice education major Sarah Molina performing Enrique Granados’ “El tra la la y el punteado.”
Freshman voice performance major Arella Labrado interpreted Manuel de Falla’s “Nana” while Junior music performance major Lili Moulton performed “No sé qué siento aquí,” by Manuel Fernández Caballero.
Reflecting on the experience of performing under pressure, Labrado noted that getting up on stage is “very nerve-racking.”
“I’ve learned to use my nerves as kind of, like, support to get me more excited than scared, by stepping on [the] stage, and that helps me mentally [over come my nerves],” Labrado said.
Junior voice performance major Ayana Fairley brought dramatic flair with “Pasó la noche” by Joaquín Gaztambide, and guest artist Associate Professor of Voice Brian Downen delivered a powerful rendition of “No puede ser” from Pablo Sorozábal.
The Spanish section concluded with an instrumental collaboration of Joaquín Rodrigo’s “Españoleta y Fanfare de la Caballería de Nápoles,” featuring Professor of applied piano, Dena Kay Jones on piano and Assistant Professor of flute, Mafer Guglielmina on flute.
The musical journey then moved across the Atlantic to Cuba, opening with Assistant Professor Lauren Barchi performing Tania León’s “Notes towards a poem that can never be written.” Senior music education major Ariah Labrado followed with Ernesto Lecuona’s “Escucha al ruiseñor,” while Lauren Martinez provided a piano performance of Lecuona’s “En tres por cuatro,” from Danzas cubanas and “Malagueña,” from Suite Espagnole.
Representing Argentina, tenor José Carmona delivered an interpretation of Carlos Gardel’s classic “El día que me quieras.”
The concert’s final regional focus honored Mexico. Reflecting on his initial reaction to being selected for the showcase, sophomore music education major Gabriel Cigarroa shared his thoughts.
“Once I found out that I was going to sing at the celebration, I mean, it was going to be a great opportunity to, yes, show off my voice and seeing about, you know, the Hispanic heritage and everything else,” Ciggaroa said.
Sophomore music education major Maya Villa opened the segment with the traditional “Noche Serena” arranged by Edward Kilenyi Sr., followed by Cigarroa performing “A la orilla de un palmar,” arranged by Manuel M. Ponce.
Diana L. Esparza performed Ponce’s “Insomnia” and Selena F. Díaz sang María Grever’s “Cuando vuelva a tu lado.”
The program closed with a crowd-pleasing rendition of Tomás Méndez’s “Cucurrucucú paloma,” featuring saxophone accompaniment by Abel Mireles and vocals by Candice Reyes, leading straight into a lively, audience-wide sing-along of Jesús Monge’s “México lindo y querido.”
To conclude the evening, Duke directed an inspiring message to the student body regarding the celebration of their identity and encouraging them.
“To do that and to have great pride in who they are, and their language and their art in whatever way that is meaningful to them,” Duke said. “I just encourage them to own that because this, this beautiful borderland bilingual, multicultural city that we’re in gives people who live here a superpower that not, any other places in the world probably could claim.”
Admission to the concert was free, drawing an enthusiastic audience of students, faculty and residents who filled the venue to support local student artists and celebrate cultural heritage.
Adrian Gonzalez Jr. is a staff reporter for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected]