A local mariachi music program celebrated its 15th anniversary this week, ocregister.com reported. The Mariachi Nationals & Summer Institute, an educational program focused on preserving mariachi traditions, held its anniversary celebration in partnership with the Anaheim Elementary School District.
The program is an initiative of the Mariachi Heritage Society, a nonprofit that teaches traditional music in grade schools throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties, and recently expanded into the Anaheim Unified High School District, according to ocregister.com. José Hernández, a Grammy-nominated mariachi musician and father of Crystal Hernández, founded the organization in 1991 and remains a key figure in the summer institute, teaching alongside his daughter, ocregister.com reported.
More than 175 mariachi musicians from across the United States gathered at Benito Juarez Elementary School in Anaheim this week to learn instruments and singing techniques, ocregister.com reported. The summer camp concludes with the annual Mariachi Nationals, where vocalists and ensembles compete for a chance to perform at the OC Fair on Sunday, Aug. 2, alongside Mariachi Sol de México, ocregister.com reported.
Pedro Fregroso, 17, of Westminster, has attended the summer institute for 10 years, ocregister.com reported. He recalled being inspired by the instructors and José Hernández’s trumpet playing, which motivated him to learn the trumpet and sing, ocregister.com reported. Fregroso stated that the program has connected him to his Hispanic community and helped him improve his Spanish language skills, ocregister.com reported.
Fregroso added that mariachi music has become an important part of his life and that he is committed to preserving his culture, ocregister.com reported.
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