The approaching end of October marks the countdown for Día de Los Muertos, a traditional holiday within the rich Mexican culture, promoting the celebration of life and multi-generational family, as well as remembering and honoring loved ones who have passed away. In upholding this important annual festival, the Sinfonia Mexicana Mariachi Youth Academy of San Bernardino, a musical academy with over 500 students dedicated to preserving the traditions of mariachi music and its history, hosted another Día de Los Muertos concert featuring customary food, as well as various performances from the Ballet Folklórico Cultural de San Bernardino and the renowned Mariachi Internacional de Mexico de Francisco J. Jara.
Upon entering, one was immediately struck by the decorations set up outside; a large, ornately painted wooden archway marked the entrance, the orange-gold petals of el cempasúchitl, or Mexican marigolds that are said to help guide the visiting spirits to their altars, were floating in the flowing water of the fountain, with makeshift buds adorning the walls and leading to the inside, where the show was about to begin.
The minutes before the opening were filled with the bustling commotion of family and friends hurrying to find their assigned seats, a flurry of English and Spanish words flying about. Once the lights dimmed, and everyone took their seats, the opening performance took to the stage, younger children wielding instruments sang “Cielito Lindo," one of the most well known songs in Mexico, other than the national anthem. This was followed by the intermediate group, and then the advanced. The latter of which played a varied handful of songs, showcasing the individual talents of some of the academy’s talented singers as well. They performed native folk songs such as “La Llorona," a tune that one might recognize from Disney’s “Coco," as well as classics like Selena Quintanilla’s “Tú, Sólo Tú." Along with the amazing music being performed there was a slideshow displayed in order to commemorate specific loved ones, lost but not forgotten.
Rosie Aguirre, a volunteer for the show and a mother of one of the advanced performers, speaks warmly about Día de Los Muertos and the significance of celebrating it with this concert. “They [the youth] learn not only to celebrate Día de Los Muertos, but they learn how important it is for their ancestors, our culture, to remember the people who are in heaven.”
The show is a means of entertainment, but it is also a major cultural learning moment for the young people who take part in it. Through music and dance, they get to connect with their parents, grandparents, and all those who came before and participate in a long shared tradition that transcends lifetimes. As is evidenced by the multi-generational talent showcased within the academy and the ballet, as well as the subsequent performance by the older Mariachi Internacional de Mexico.
In fact, one of the violinists and singers of the advanced group in the Youth Academy, Natalie Luna, expressed the importance of this particular concert for the community, but also for herself. “My dad passed away in sixth grade... He is the person who pushed me to play mariachi music. So Día de Los Muertos is very important to me. I get to remember him.”
In thanks to her active participation in this performance, she was able to connect to her late father, to remember and honor him through music; as was the case for everyone else who was able to participate and/or was lucky enough to be a viewer. The dedicated youth performers, tantalizing music that filled the theater, and the slideshow display all provided an emotional and unforgettable experience.