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ASU Mariachi Band Organized

August 24, 2010

A group of Angelo State University students has formed Mariachi Oro y Azul (gold and blue), a new student organization dedicated to performing and promoting mariachi music.

Rosendo Ramos, president of Mariachi Oro y Azul, and Laura Lara, vice president, took over formation of the band from former ASU student Victor Andrade, who began promoting mariachi music on the ASU campus three years ago. The band is now a registered student organization through the Student Life Office, and Dr. John Irish of the Department of Art and Music serves as faculty sponsor.

The 15-member Mariachi Oro y Azul debuted on Saturday, Aug. 21, during Rambunctious Weekend on the ASU campus.

Ramos is the only band member majoring in music, but the others have experience playing mariachi music. Several are former San Angelo Central High School mariachi band members and have been mariachi musicians since middle school.

“A lot of students are just interested in playing,” Ramos said. “A lot of them play in an orchestra, but we don’t have an orchestra here, so they become interested in the mariachi group because it allows them to continue playing their string instrument through college.”

Some of the members play in other groups besides Oro y Azul, Ramos said, including Mariachi Sol Azteca, Mariachi Reyna del Sol and Mariachi Alma Mexicana.

The group practices regularly on Thursdays and plans to perform around the area, including at the ASU Association for Mexican-American Students’ event during the Dias y Seis de Septiembre (Mexican Independence Day) celebration on the ASU campus.

For more information on Mariachi Oro y Azul, contact Ramos at rramos10@angelo.edu.