March 11, 2013

Vol. 28 , No. 10   


View Entire Issue (Vol. 28 , No. 10)

Mariachi Divas: A Musical Celebration in Honor of Cesar Chavez
CINDY SHEA, trumpet, founding director
BETO JIMENEZ, musical director
DILLY ALARCON, trumpet
CATHY BAEZA, violin
VANEZA CALDERON, guitarron
MELENA FRANCES, congas, percussion
JILLIAN KARDELL, violin
MARIA LUPITA LOPEZ, violin, vocals
STEPHANIE MARTINEZ, violin, vocals
MAYRA MARTINEZ, vihuela
ANIANA MEJIA, flute, vocals
SABRINA RODGERS, trumpet
MELINDA SALCEDO, guitar, vocals
KARINA ZURITA, guitar, vocals
BALLET FOLKLORICO OLLIN
MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2013

Come join the party and welcome back the Mariachi Divas for our annual Cesar Chavez Day celebration! In a traditionally male dominated field, the Divas are an award-winning all-female mariachi ensemble with members hailing from many backgrounds and from all over the world. The Diva's Director, Cindy Shea, describes their mission: “Music is a way of uniting our cultural backgrounds. Our foundation and roots are mariachi, but we have added extra elements to reflect our diversity."

Founded in 1999, the Divas have performed at venues across the country and have accompanied Grammy-winning artists including Marco Antonio Solis, Pablo Montero, Graciela Beltran, Natalia Jimenez, Paulina Rubio and the world-renowned Mariachi Vargas. They also performed for the inaugurations of LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a campaign rally by former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and at events for the Presidents of Mexico and South Korea. The Divas are proud to be known as the official mariachis of Disneyland.

The Divas first performed at the Athenaeum in honor of Cesar Chavez Day in 2004.

The Mariachi Divas have recorded six CDs, the latest being Viva la Diva (2010) and 10 Aniversario (2009) in honor of their first ten years together. In 2009, they won a Grammy Award for Best Regional Mexican Album for their Canciones de Amor CD (2008). That was also the first time that an all-female mariachi troupe has ever been nominated for and won a Grammy Award.

To sample some music and video clips, check out their website at http://www.mariachidivas.com. Be sure to put this Ath event on your calendar; it’s a tradition you don’t want to miss!