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, \u201c\u00a1Celebraci\u00f3n!\u201d, on Sept. 24.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Funded with support from the department of Chicano Studies, the evening brought together students from UTEP\u2019s opera workshop classes, collaborative instrumentalists, faculty members and esteemed guest artists.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think everybody knows mariachi and ranchera\u2026 but we\u2019re 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\u2019s going to have a very different sound,\u201d Duke said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
During the first week of classes, they audition for a solo spot, leading to a talented roster this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year everyone was so excellent that everyone who auditioned is singing a solo in tonight\u2019s performance,\u201d Duke said.<\/p>\n
To showcase these diverse musical identities, the program was carefully divided into regional segments.<\/p>\n
The night opened with a preludio performance of \u201cEl herradero,\u201d by Pedro Galindo Galarza, featuring vocals by CJ Santos and Mariachi Excelencia, along with an ensemble of flutists, violinists, trumpeters, guitarr\u00f3n players and guitarists.<\/p>\n
Transitioning to Europe, the Espa\u00f1a segment featured classical art songs and operatic excerpts. Junior voice education major Samantha Molina opened with Jacinto Valledor\u2019s \u201cCanci\u00f3n de t\u00edmida,\u201d followed by sophomore voice education major Sarah Molina performing Enrique Granados\u2019 \u201cEl tra la la y el punteado.\u201d<\/p>\n
Freshman voice performance major Arella Labrado interpreted Manuel de Falla\u2019s \u201cNana\u201d while Junior music performance major Lili Moulton performed \u201cNo s\u00e9 qu\u00e9 siento aqu\u00ed,\u201d by Manuel Fern\u00e1ndez Caballero.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the experience of performing under pressure, Labrado noted that getting up on stage is \u201cvery nerve-racking.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve 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],\u201d Labrado said.<\/p>\n
Junior voice performance major Ayana Fairley brought dramatic flair with \u201cPas\u00f3 la noche\u201d by Joaqu\u00edn Gaztambide, and guest artist Associate Professor of Voice Brian Downen delivered a powerful rendition of \u201cNo puede ser\u201d from Pablo Soroz\u00e1bal.<\/p>\n
The Spanish section concluded with an instrumental collaboration of Joaqu\u00edn Rodrigo\u2019s \u201cEspa\u00f1oleta y Fanfare de la Caballer\u00eda de N\u00e1poles,\u201d featuring Professor of applied piano, Dena Kay Jones on piano and Assistant Professor of flute, Mafer Guglielmina on flute.<\/p>\n
The musical journey then moved across the Atlantic to Cuba,\u202fopening with Assistant Professor Lauren Barchi performing Tania Le\u00f3n\u2019s \u201cNotes towards a poem that can never be written.\u201d Senior music education major Ariah Labrado followed with Ernesto Lecuona\u2019s \u201cEscucha al ruise\u00f1or,\u201d while Lauren Martinez provided a piano performance of Lecuona\u2019s \u201cEn tres por cuatro,\u201d from\u202fDanzas cubanas\u202fand \u201cMalague\u00f1a,\u201d from\u202fSuite Espagnole.<\/p>\n
Representing Argentina, tenor Jos\u00e9 Carmona delivered an interpretation of Carlos Gardel\u2019s classic \u201cEl d\u00eda que me quieras.\u201d<\/p>\n
The concert\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce 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,\u201d Ciggaroa said.<\/p>\n
Sophomore music education major Maya Villa opened the segment with the traditional \u201cNoche Serena\u201d arranged by Edward Kilenyi Sr., followed by Cigarroa performing \u201cA la orilla de un palmar,\u201d arranged by Manuel M. Ponce.<\/p>\n
Diana L. Esparza performed Ponce\u2019s \u201cInsomnia\u201d and Selena F. D\u00edaz sang Mar\u00eda Grever\u2019s \u201cCuando vuelva a tu lado.\u201d<\/p>\n
The program closed with a crowd-pleasing rendition of Tom\u00e1s M\u00e9ndez\u2019s \u201cCucurrucuc\u00fa paloma,\u201d featuring saxophone accompaniment by Abel Mireles and vocals by Candice Reyes, leading straight into a lively, audience-wide sing-along of Jes\u00fas Monge\u2019s \u201cM\u00e9xico lindo y querido.\u201d<\/p>\n
To conclude the evening, Duke directed an inspiring message to the student body regarding the celebration of their identity and encouraging them.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo 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,\u201d Duke said. \u201cI just encourage them to own that because this, this beautiful borderland bilingual, multicultural city that we\u2019re in gives people who live here a superpower that not, any other places in the world probably could claim.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n