Violins swell as trumpets cut sharply through the air, their notes weaving together in a celebratory and upbeat sound. Spanish voices rise in unison, as each performer balances their vocals and instrument at once.
With the deep pulse of the guitarrón and the crisp strum of the vihuela, traditional Mexican music is showcased through a style that blends romance, heartbreak and cultural celebration.
This music — rooted in tradition and rich with storytelling — will fill the Chapman Foundations Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday as University of Colorado at Colorado Springs students debut their first performance as the Mariachi Ensemble.
Led by instructor Michael DiBarry, the newly formed class has spent the semester working alongside members of Mariachi Diamante, a Pueblo-based group founded by David Benavidez, to learn the foundations of traditional Mexican mariachi.
“The students are getting one-on-one instruction with people who are deeply in the mariachi tradition and mariachi professionals,” DiBarry said. “David and I have been really guiding this group to a beautiful place of new music for them.”
Before coming to UCCS, DiBarry spent six years in Arizona, where he performed with Mariachi Rubor, an experience that he said helped shape his approach to teaching the genre.
“There’s something really electric and inviting about mariachi concerts and performances,” DiBarry said. “The audience feels free to get involved. Sometimes they call out requests, they dance along or they sing along. I’ve taken some of that joy from mariachi in Arizona and brought it to the table with David. We’re sort of combining our different regional mariachi experiences.”
For Benavidez, who has spent more than two decades immersed in music, mariachi being taught in school isn’t a new practice.
Benavidez grew up with access to mariachi education in high school, taking it as a formal class that introduced him to performances, competitions and even recording opportunities.
“What it really did was put me into a world that wasn’t my own,” Benavidez said. “I refound a part of my heritage. I’m like a fifth-generation American, and a lot of our traditions didn’t stick through. We became Americanized. It allowed me to rediscover a part of myself and open up my curiosity about where I come from and why I’m so attached to this type of music.”
Now, Benavidez is offering that same opportunity to Mariachi Ensemble students as Mariachi Diamante joins them on stage, blending professional experience with a classroom still finding its rhythm.
“We’re hoping that this is just the beginning of growing mariachi opportunities, teaching opportunities and performance opportunities in Colorado Springs for mariachi music teachers and students,” DiBarry said.
The ensemble itself reflects that mission. Students range in age from 18 to their mid-60s, all learning to sing in Spanish and play simultaneously.
Despite the language difference the crowd might experience, DiBarry said the audience “doesn’t need to know Spanish to enjoy this.”
“Everyone’s welcome in mariachi, but in particular, people who come from Hispanic descent can trace their roots to Mexico,” Benavidez said. “I hope that I can at least bring this self-discovery to somebody else by helping people get in touch with a little bit of their culture. They can do their own self-realization and self-exploration and see if they can connect to this music as well.”
That emphasis on authenticity even extends to what the performers wear. Traditional mariachi suits can cost up to $1,000 per person, so instead, the program commissioned custom moños, or traditional mariachi bow ties, from Denver’s Trajes Charros La Noria.
“If you haven’t seen mariachi before, this is gonna be a brand new and exciting thing,” DiBarry said. “Our goal is to play foundational pieces and play them right because we’re really placing a high value on authenticity and tradition. We want to show the Mexican American community that we are taking this responsibility very seriously to honor this music, the legacy of how this music is passed down and to create a space for people to celebrate and share this culture.”
IF YOU GO
What: Mariachi Ensemble
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Chapman Foundations Recital Hall, 5225 N. Nevada Ave.
Price: Free
