Anthony Flores, a music education senior with a concentration in mariachi, performs “La Que Se Fue” by Jose Alfredo Jimenez Oct. 20 at the Violin Senior Recital in the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex on the Edinburg campus. Abigail Ollave/THE RIDER
On Oct. 20, Anthony Flores became the first UTRGV student to complete a required senior recital for the bachelor’s in music education with a concentration in mariachi.
Flores’ recital took place in the Performing Arts Center on the Edinburg campus.
Under the classical music portion of the recital, he performed the pieces “Melodie,” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky; “Melodie,” by Christoph Willibald Gluck; “3 Old Viennese Dances,” “Liebesfreud,” “Liebesleid” and “Schön Rosmarin” by Fritz Kreisler.
For the Mariachi portion of the evening, Flores performed “La Rabia,” by Jose Isaias Salmeron Pastenes; “El Gustito,” by Elpidio Ramirez; “La Que Se Fue,” by Jose Alfredo Jimenez; and “Tango Bolero,” by Juan Llossas, among others.
Flores, a violinist, said it was always a dream of his to come to UTRGV and join the mariachi since it played a significant role in his family life.
“I didn’t think it would be me, you know, so it’s kind of surreal,” he said about being the first string student to complete the recital.
After starting his journey at the bottom of the group, he now stands as a first chair violinist.
“Little by little, I kept going up in terms of what part I was playing,” Flores said. “And then, right now, I’m on the first violin, which means you’re progressing.”
Joel Pagán, a strings professor in the School of Music at UTRGV, said Flores set the bar high for future students by performing both classical and mariachi portions of the program at a high musical level.
“It’s something to look at, so, [students] can prepare to that standard, or even better,” Pagán said.
He said this accomplishment is historic within the School of Music because even though the degree is fairly new, it has already brought students from different parts of the country and it is expected to bring more.
“It’s maintaining that national and international recognition but also teaching and creating new generations of new mariachis and musicians,” Pagán said.
The mariachi program began in 1989 and was founded by Dahlia Guerra, special assistant to the dean for Outreach and Partnerships. However, the mariachi concentration was established two years ago.
Guerra, who accompanied Flores on the piano on stage, said the mariachi major and program’s main goal is to continue to grow and prepare students by not only getting them to be successful musicians, but also educators.
The mariachi ensembles at UTRGV have opened doors for students throughout the U.S., Mexico and Canada to play alongside groups and musicians, such as Mariachi Sol de México, Mariachi Los Camperos and Mexican singer Aida Cuevas.
“The fact that they travel to venues that they would have never dreamed of going … they performed in Washington, D.C., for the president,” Guerra said. “ … The opportunities that have been presented to these students have been transforming.”
Performing alongside Flores were other faculty and students, including Mellanie Olivares, Joel Sanchez and Charlie Garcia on violin; Rodolfo De Santiago, guitarrón; Austin Rosalez, viruela; Luisfelipe Ornelas, guitar; Jesus Villegas and Eduardo Martinez, trumpet; and Jacob Contador, harp.
