Be a part of the 24th San José Mariachi & Folkloricó Festival!
Registration is now open for mariachi music and folkloricó dance workshops on July 25-29 

Estimados,

Please join us in celebrating the 24th year of a community tradition: the San José Mariachi & Folkloricó Festival! You can be a part of the tradition by registering for a music or dance workshop, attending a Mariachi Mass, or by enjoying the wonderful free family concert. 
Happy mariachi students!


More than 300 mariachi music and folkloricó dance students will join the Mexican Heritage Corporation at our annual festival from July 25-30. This year's theme, "Alma, Corazon y Vida," is a nod to the heartfelt efforts of volunteer staff and community members who have faithfully nurtured the festival for years. We also salute San José City College, a supporter of the arts and the host of the workshops. 

Participants from throughout the Bay Area and Northern California will attend the workshops at San José City College from July 25-29. 
 
Then, on July 30 at 7 p.m., the "Alma, Corazon y Vida" Family Concert will feature the work of student and community mariachi and folkloricó companies in a FREE concert at San José State University. This family-oriented event will serve as the culminating performance of the workshop students and youth performance ensembles, and showcase the professional ensemble Mariachi Azteca, currently in their 34th year of serving the San José cultural community.
 
[image: Mariachi Azteca]
The members of Mariachi Azteca.
 
Also part of the festival: a Mariachi Mass featuring the music of Mariachi Perla de José Leon. It's scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday, July 26, at the Cathedral Basilica of San José, at 80 S. Market St.

 

About the faculty and material
Maestro José Tena
Our folkloricó dance faculty will be led by Maestro José Tena of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Faculty members are: Maria Luisa Colmenarez, Rosalia Novotny, Rudy Figueroa, Hector Gonzalez & David "Texomazatl" Vargas.  Expect an exciting mix of material, with dances from Colima, Puebla, San Luis Potosi, Danza Azteca, and Jalisco! 

 

Music workshops cover the violin, vihuela, guitarron, guitarra, trompeta, voz and arpa jalisciense. Classes will be taught by mariachi instructors:  Juan Reyes, Juan "Pato" Diaz, José Ballin, Abigail Torres, Angel Amezquita, Juan Diaz II, and William Faulkner.

All workshops are for ages 7 and over with at least two years experience. Join us! 

  

How to register
Register before June 24 and save on registration fees! Learn more and sign up at mhcviva.org.
 
[image: Folklorico dancers]
Dancers enjoying a past festival.
 
 

About the Mexican Heritage Corporation

 

Founded in 1988, the Mexican Heritage Corporation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San José that has been presenting, producing and promoting the dance, music and visual arts traditions of Mexico for over 25 years. MHC creates opportunities for individuals and communities to celebrate, share, and sustain the vitality of Mexico's ethnic and traditional cultural arts and multicultural arts within the region. MHC promotes the importance of cultural heritage by strengthening ethnic identity and community.

 

MHC's mission is to educate through the preservation and celebration of the rich cultural heritage of Mexico and our multicultural community. Our programs consist of two major efforts:  the annual San José Mariachi & Folkloricó Festival workshops and the Mariachi Youth Program in the schools.

  

Thank you to everyone who is part of the festival -- those who have been coming for years, and those for whom this is your first festival! We're also especially grateful to the National Endowment for the Arts and the City of San José. Their generous support through program grants makes this event possible.

 

We're looking forward to seeing you in July!

Saludos,
Maria Luisa Colmenarez
SJMFF 2015 Artistic Director

 

Funding for the Mexican Heritage Corporation and its programs such as ¡VivaFest! and its mariachi education program is provided in part through: a grant from the Office of Cultural Affairs of the City of San José, The National Endowment for the Arts, The TomKat Charitable Trust, The Hewlett Foundation, The Union Bank Foundation, Wells Fargo Bank, MACYs, Southwest Airlines, Mundo Fox, earned revenue from ¡VivaFest! and from readers like YOU. THANK YOU. To learn more about all of our generous donors please visit www.vivafest.org/sponsors.

 

[image: donate now button]

  


About Mexican Heritage Corporation
The mission of the Mexican Heritage Corporation is to affirm, celebrate, and preserve the rich cultural heritage of the Mexican Community and showcase multicultural arts within the region.
 

 

Mexican Heritage Corporation 
Bob Gonzales
Board Chair and Interim-CEO
More Information: 877-MHC-VIVA