It was this class’ first mariachi concert in the Mission High School auditorium with only about three months to prepare and rehearse. For some, if not all, it was their first time on the stage.
The singer was a beginner, but while she sang, it sounded like her voice was made for mariachi. Her voice was soulful and full of emotion.
Her name is Fernanda Espinal. She was born in Honduras and started singing at her school for events like a Mother’s Day performance. She’s only a junior and has an incredible voice; she also plays violin. Fernanada only joined mariachi this year, but hopes to keep being in it next year. At first, she was a bit nervous to perform, but towards the end of the performance, it seemed like her nerves were under control, and she was enjoying the moment.
This mariachi band has six members. Three of them are male and the others are female. The songs they played were mostly love songs in Spanish, (“Carriño”, “Mochila Azul”, and “Tres Dias”) with high and low notes.
It was nice getting out to class to see them perform, but it would have been better if there was a bigger audience of Spanish speakers who could enjoy the music and understand the lyrics.
I asked one of the members, ninth grader, Rex Moore, what his first impression of mariachi was, he said “I was excited to play the bass.”
Students who have taken a music class or have had Mr. Carvajal know how hard it is to perform and how much practice it takes to feel comfortable and confident to go on the stage. For their first time performing, they did a good job of playing as one. They had a nice harmony and that is something they should be proud of.
