'It unifies people': Regina’s first mariachi band makes debut performance
A group of musicians from five different countries, dubbing themselves as Saskatchewan’s first mariachi band, made their debut on Sept. 10 with a performance celebrating Latin independence.
“Music is something that runs in our blood and it’s part of our everyday life,” said Ana Hernandez, lead vocalist and guitarist of Mariachi Latino.
“It unifies people. It doesn’t care about colour; it doesn’t care about your age or about how you look or about anything. Our hearts beat at the same rhythm.”
Hernandez moved to Canada from Mexico in 2005. She decided to start the band a year ago when she discovered the need for Latin music on the prairies.
She put out an ad and recruited 10 other musicians. All of them have been practicing in Hernandez’s garage for the past year.
“We rehearsed a lot—three, four, sometimes even five days a week in here,” she said.
Mariachi is a genre of Mexican music that is traditionally played at weddings and special events, Hernandez said.
We do dance with the mariachi. There are a few songs that are very happy,” Hernandez said.
“But it’s mostly for performing and watching.”
Mariachi Latino stretches the cultural boundaries with 11 musicians from Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Chile and Canada. The youngest band member is 11-years-old.
“Every person, you learn. It doesn’t matter what is your age, your culture or what you believe,” said Sandra Zapata, guitarist and vocalist.
Zapata, originally from Colombia, joined the band to grow as a musician and meet new people.
“The mariachi band is a family,” she said.
The band plays five different types of instruments: trumpet, flute, violin, saxophone and guitar. Two of the guitars are so unique that they can only be found in Mexico, Hernandez said.
On stage, the musicians dress in the same traditional outfits that represent cowboys, or charros in Mexico. Each musician wears a jacket, ribbon and sombrero. The women wear skirts and the men wear pants.
Hernandez said everything should be sewn by hand.
“This would be the representation of nice clothing for a cowboy guy in Mexico,” she said.
The band has a couple of performances under its belt, Hernandez said. She hopes as time goes on, the band can grow in numbers and shows, while creating a welcoming space for everyone.
“You make people unified, sing together, dance, forget about your problems and have a better view of your life just by putting music together,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.
King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.