Committee to Host Its 3rd Mariachi Concert

More than 100 young musicians, from beginners to experts, will take the stage Sunday as the San Fernando Valley Mariachi Concert Committee hosts the third annual “La Voz del Mariachi” at San Fernando High School.

The concert will feature nine mariachi youth groups from the Valley and a performance by Ballet Folklorico Ollin, one of the area’s premier Mexican dance groups, organizers said.

The Los Angeles Unified School District’s San Fernando Cluster and the San Fernando Valley Latino Arts Council are co-sponsoring the event.

Cluster Administrator Maria Reza, who helped found the Mariachi Concert Committee as a teacher at San Fernando Middle School, said proceeds from the concert will help pay for the groups’ instruments, travel expenses and “trajes,” or costumes.

The performers represent a variety of skill levels and range from elementary to college students, Reza said.

“In 1989 we started the mariachi program in the Valley and since then many of these students have gone on and started other groups,” Reza said. “It’s really grown. Now we have a plethora of groups in the area.”

Tickets for the concert are $7 general and $5 for students. Children 10 and younger are free. “We had a sell-out crowd last year and we are expecting the same this year,” Reza said.

The concert will begin at 3 p.m. in the high school’s gymnasium, 11133 O’Melveny Ave., Pacoima. For information call the school district’s cluster office at (818) 896-7677.