Concert attendees will experience a celebration of local Mexican heritage when the Elgin Symphony Orchestra welcomes Grupo De Danza Folklorica Quetzaly and Mariachi Joya Dorada de U-46 to perform at the Symphony’s “Mariachi!” concerts featuring Mariachi Acero de Las Vegas at the Hemmens Cultural Center on April 30 and May 1.
Performing in the lobby starting one hour before the concerts will be the student musicians of Mariachi Joya Dorada de U-46. The group is composed of students from U-46 middle and high schools. Since its founding in 2018, the group has performed at dozens of events.
Grupo De Danza Folklorica Quetzaly, which provides the opportunity for children and adults in the Elgin area to celebrate and stay connected to their Mexican heritage through folk dance and music, will perform at intermission.
“The Elgin Symphony Orchestra is committed to celebrating and sharing the diverse culture of our community,” said Marc Thayer, CEO of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. “We are excited to bring this festive celebration of Elgin’s local Mexican heritage to the Hemmens Cultural Center this month. These two groups are dedicated to preserving the colorful Mexican arts culture with future generations and showcasing their heritage with the greater community. We encourage patrons to arrive early to hear the student performers in Mariachi Joya Dorada de U-46, and to enjoy the intermission performance by Grupo De Danza Folklorica Quetzaly. ”
Richard Mizell will conduct the “Mariachi!” concerts featuring Mariachi Acero de Las Vegas on Saturday, April 30, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, May 1, at 3 p.m. Mizell was senior music producer for the Walt Disney Company for 37 years and conducted nationally recognized orchestras with EPCOT’s Mariachi Cobre and Doc Severinsen.
Mariachi Acero de Las Vegas was founded in 2008 by Erik Ramirez, a graduate of East Chicago High School in Indiana, and received top honors in the 2012 and 2013 Mariachi Nationals hosted by Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez and at the 2014 Battle of the Mariachis at San Juan Capistrano Mission in California.
Mariachi Acero de Las Vegas has shared the stage with the greatest Mariachi ensembles in the world including Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlan, Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez, and Mariachi Los Camperos. They have also had the pleasure of accompanying top Latino artists such as Emmanuel, Jenni Rivera, Angeles Ochoa, Lorenzo de Monteclaro, Pancho Barraza, Maribel Guardia, Los Temerarios, Pablo Montero, Gerardo Ortiz, Voz de Mando, and Banda Limon.
