Student's initiative provides impetus for Sul Ross Mariachi Band

ALPINE Jose Guevara's love of mariachi music has led to the formation of a Sul Ross State University band, and by the fall semester of 2009, a class in mariachi instruction.

In early April, "Mariachi Lobos del Desierto," less than two months after its formation, made its debut at the Relay for Life Multicultural Extravaganza.

Playing the guitarron (bass), Guevara anchors an eight-member group that includes Marilyn Dieckert, Alpine, flute; Karla Villasenor, El Paso, violin and vocals; Eli Elizaldez, El Paso, trumpet; and guitarists Joseph Leyva, Alpine; Jacob Sanchez, Pecos; Gilberto Lujan, Alpine; and Justin Badgerow, assistant professor of Music, who also serves as the group's adviser.

Mariachi is a type of musical group dating from the mid-1800s from Cocula, Jalisco, Mexico. Usually a mariachi consists of at least three violins, two trumpets, one Mexican guitar, one vihuela (a high-pitched, five-string guitar) one guitarrón (a small-scaled acoustic bass) and occasionally a harp. They dress in silver studded charro outfits with wide-brimmed hats.

Guevera was born in Ojinaga and moved with his family to Presidio in the sixth grade. He became involved in the school's music program as a freshman, and instrument by instrument, expanded his musical prowess. He now plays percussion, bassoon, guitarron, bass guitar and is beginning to learn the violin, owned by his grandfather, the late Jesus Guevara, a noted Ojinaga musician.

"My music experience started in Presidio," he said. "I started out on percussion, and by 2006, the band director, John Ferguson, offered to teach me the bassoon."

Soon after, Guevara - with the urging of Jose "Taro" Gutierrez, assistant band director and mariachi instructor - started learning the guitarron. He continued to progress and by his senior year in high school, Guevara joined both the Resonators band and Mariachi Santa Cruz.

Enrolling at Sul Ross in the fall of 2008, Guevara joined the Sul Ross Woodwind Ensemble, playing the bassoon. He also started taking bass guitar lessons with music instructor Steve Bennack. Shortly before the end of fall semester, wearing his mariachi jacket, he ran into Badgerow.

"Badgerow saw it and said it would be awesome to have a band, but the music department did not have a guitarron," said Guevara. "I said, ‘I have my own,' and we got started."
Badgerow supplied some mariachi music, then joined the band, learning how to play the guitar.

While he has an affinity for folk music, "I have never really worked with mariachi music or musicians before," said Badgerow. "Right now, we meet once a week for rehearsals where we work on selecting and rehearsing music. We are trying to establish a set of pieces that will become our standard ‘repertoire.' "

"Mariachi Lobos del Desierto (Mariachi Wolves of the Desert)" performed at Cinco de Mayo festival in Alpine.

In addition, the Sul Ross music program has added a mariachi class for fall semester. "It will be led by Michael Lippard," said Badgerow. "He has some good guitar background and obviously, since he is our wind ensemble director, he brings the experience of leading groups of musicians."

Guevara, meanwhile, continues to expand his musical versatility.

"The violin has been the hard part," he said. "I needed to learn to read the treble clef after working in the bass clef with the guitar and guitarron. I try to practice an hour a day with a different instrument each day."

The violin holds special significance.
"I never knew my grandfather, who died before I was born," he said. "I hope by learning to play the violin, I can establish a connection with him. My father tells me I look like him when I play."