SCERA Presents La Fiesta Del Mariachi

Utah's best-known mariachi singer will headline an energetic and joyful performance of mariachi music and dance when SCERA Center for the Arts presents La Fiesta Del Mariachi on Friday, Jan 11.

Yunuen Carrillo has enjoyed a performing career of 25 years and has performed on many prestigious stages in the United States and Mexico. Her passion for performance springs from her heritage and her studies of folklore and theater in Mexico as well as a deep belief that preserving heritage and keeping culture alive is vital for new generations.

"Children from many ethnicities can better identify themselves and proudly serve their communities when they know their roots," says the talented concert producer and performer.

La Fiesta Del Mariachi will begin at 7 p.m., and tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children 3-11 and seniors 65 and older. All tickets are reserved and available at scera.org, by calling 801-225-ARTS, or in person at the main office at SCERA Center, 745 South State, Orem, open 10-6 weekdays.

Performing will be Mariachi Mexico de Utah and the Viva el Folklore Dancers.

Carrillo and Ruben Jimenez founded Mariachi Mexico in 2013 using musicians from different countries, including Venezuela, Mexico and the United States. Carrillo has performed extensively in Utah and Idaho, including Rio Tinto Stadium, Thanksgiving Point, Fillmore Art Festival, Moab, LDS Conference Center, Kingsbury Hall at the U of U, UVU, BYU, Weber University, Univision TV, local channel 2 and 4, official events for the State of Utah and the Mexican consulate.

Director and choreographer Raquel Cazares Acosta founded the Viva el Folklore dance group in 2005 and represents the culture of more than 20 countries.

In addition to dancing traditional Mexican dance, the ensemble also performs modern dance with jazz and hip hop. They have been seen extensively throughout the West and, among others, have participated in The Hope of America and at Disneyland and Disneyworld.

In this concert the audience will hear songs known worldwide, such "Cielito Lindo" and "Besame Mucho," the latter written by Consuelo Velazquez and made famous in the United States by Frank Sinatra. Yunuen Carrillo will be the featured vocalist. Nathan Carrillo will perform music from the movie "Coco" and be accompanied by young dancers from the dance ensemble. Colorful and traditional costumes will add to the festivities.

Mariachi as representative of Mexico has led to the formation of mariachi groups in many countries, such as Egypt, Cuba, Sweden, and Japan among. The first mariachi groups came to California in 1959, and, according to Jimenez, the success of the first groups inspired the formation of many groups across the United States.

"Today, with the growth of the Latin America population in our state and the needs to share and learn from different cultures, we have excellent representatives of the legendary mariachi music," explains Jimenez. "We love that new generations are eager to learn about their roots and be part of these exceptional performances."

This is a unique family show," says SCERA's President and CEO Adam Robertson. "We love showcasing other cultures and invite our audience to experience another world-without needing to travel very far."

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