Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE

Media Credit: Roberto Rodriguez Music sophomore Mario Reding (right) rehearses with other members of Mariachi Aguilas Wednesday afternoon.

Latin sounds continue to echo from the Music Building every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening as the NT Mariachi Aguilas rehearses.

The Mariachi Aguilas ensemble was started by Donna Emmanuel of the music faculty in spring 2004. Previously, Emmanuel had been at Michigan University, where she was involved in a mariachi program.

"When she came here, she expected there to be one, and there wasn't," said band director Daniel Cantu of the music faculty.

Emmanuel received funding for mariachi instruments through the Division of Equity and Diversity to get the band started. Now the band is categorized as a College of Music ensemble.

"It didn't start out that way," Cantu said. "It was first a student organization."

Once the group began gaining more popularity around NT's campus, the organization was transformed into an experimental class. Not long after that, the group was considered an ensemble.

Cantu joined the Mariachi Aguilas when he was a music education sophomore. A few semesters later, he started directing as an undergraduate.

Cantu moved up quickly because of his distinct background in mariachi music.

"I started with mariachi in sixth grade," he said.

As a longtime lover of mariachi music, Cantu also recognized the prominent view other NT music students initially had of the group when it first started.

"Mariachi has a lot of negative stereotypes that come along with it," he said. "At first it was kind of hard to be taken seriously by the classically trained musicians."

Music education senior Jason Molina also grew up around mariachi music. He gained interest and joined the Mariachi Aguilas while it was still in its beginning stages as an organization.

"I found this little group, so I joined because Dr. Emmanuel pushed me and said, 'Yeah, it's a lot of fun,'" Molina said.

In his studies, Molia is focusing primarily on classical music as a trombone player. However, to Molina, the mariachi band is a time to have fun.

"Mariachi, for me, is like my break," he said. "It's what I do to get to get away, kind of clear my head."

Molina stressed that the Mariachi Aguilas are equally as prestigious as classically trained musician ensembles.

"The group holds a pretty high standard, but it's on a different level," he said. "You can really enjoy yourself; it's not a competition."

Once the band earned high respect from NT students and musicians, this was no longer a problem, Cantu said.

The Mariachi Aguilas play on NT campus and around Denton regularly. Sometimes they can be seen outside of Denton's city limits. They jammed at the NT Dallas campus recently alongside performing at various fundraisers and NT events.

The band will be participating in homecoming festivities by walking in the parade and representing their group at the College of Music booth.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools