Thanks to the co-sponsorship of American Legion Post 7 and the Lake Chapala Society, two talented mariachi groups will be appearing together in a pair of concerts at Lakeside’s First Annual International Mariachi Festival.
Prior to the Saturday, January 9 and Sunday, January 10 concerts, the musicians of Mariachi Internacional Guadalajara and Mariachi Esterellas de Chula Vista will divide up for three days of sectional workshops, when they will explain the skills and tricks of their craft.
Members of the public are invited to visit the grounds of the Lake Chapala Society in Ajijic on Wednesday, January 6 and Friday, January 8 to observe the violin, trumpet and bass workshops. Guests are urged to watch quietly without making comments or asking questions.
Mariachi workshops will be one of many activities at the American Legion Post 7 Open House on Thursday, January 7, noon to 5 p.m.
Visitors are invited to learn about the post’s many events, and get to know members of the Legion, the Auxiliary, the Sons of the Legion and the Legion Riders. They can also discover the services available for veterans and the charitable work these groups are sponsoring. Free margaritas will be served during the afternoon event.
The mariachi workshops are designed to whet the community’s interest in advance of the concerts the Legion is co-sponsoring on Saturday, January 9, 4 p.m. in the Lake Chapala Society Gazebo, and on Sunday, January 10, 1 p.m. at the Centro Cultural Presidencia Viejo in Chapala.
Mariachi Internacional Guadalajara was founded more than 25 years ago and has appeared at dozens of major festivals in Mexico and the United States.
Mariachi Estrellas de Chula Vista from San Diego, California originated at Chula Vista High School. For more than a decade, this group has been considered the best student mariachi band in the United States. Directed by Mark Fogelquist, they now appear in major festivals on both sides of the border as semi-professionals. Most of the members are still college students and help support their education through their performances.
Tickets for the concerts are available at Post 7 in Chapala and at the Lake Chapala Society.
Tickets cost 150 pesos.