Marching Mariachi coming to 帕洛阿尔托学院

在帕洛阿尔托学院, students have the opportunity to study a wide range of artistic, 音乐的, 还有戏剧艺术. The variety of programs offered is what keeps the students' learning experiences unique and interesting, which allows our first-rate faculty to push the boundaries while establishing the college as a cultural beacon for the fine and performing arts.

One of those faculty members is two-time Grammy winner Juan Ortiz, founder of the Juan Ortiz Mariachi Academy. 通过他的学院, Ortiz teaches students the basics of mariachi, while simultaneously keeping them engaged in their studies and focused on completing their education.

"When I came to 帕洛阿尔托学院, I told the president 'if you need someone to compete and showcase and just perform, then I'm not the person for this job,’”奥尔蒂斯说. "'If you want something that the students can relate to and can use as an education to continue and pursue their associate's degree, 他们的学士学位, then I'm the person for you.'"

Ortiz hopes students will keep the mariachi culture alive after learning about the history and impact of the art form through his teaching.

"It was coming to a point where mariachi culture was dying. People were no longer playing the mariachi standards,奥尔蒂斯说。. "The best way to keep it going is by doing it with the kids. If you want to start a new program, do it with the children."

2019年秋季学期, 帕洛阿尔托学院 will be using Ortiz's mariachi expertise to start its first-ever marching mariachi band. It will have all the elements of a standard marching band with an added mariachi twist.

"Dr. Garza has a vision of creating something so unique, and no other school has it on paper as a marching mariachi band,奥尔蒂斯说。. "It's tremendously exciting because we're at the forefront. We're going to be the first marching mariachi band in the nation, and from what I can gather, 世界上第一个."

为学生, the marching mariachi adds another element to the diverse programs and extracurricular activities offered at the 大学. 约书亚•米勒, a drama student at the 大学, used to march on his high school drumline and said he was excited to hear of the new opportunity.

"Now that we're having [marching band] at PAC, that's incredible," said Miller. "I saw the email and I was really excited about it. It brought back a bunch of memories and old feelings."

音乐家, 舞者, 歌手, and performers in all fields of study are invited to try out for the marching mariachi. This gives them an opportunity to get a taste of all the opportunities that the 大学 has to offer, an outlet to showcase their talents, while also giving them a chance to meet their classmates.

Tryouts for the marching mariachi are taking place on Wednesday, 7月 24. Recent high school graduates, as well as current and future 帕洛阿尔托学院 students are encouraged to sign-up. To register or to learn more about the group, please visit the marching mariachi 活动页面.