— from Karen D. Ritter —
On Saturday January 31st we had the privilege of attending the Mariachi Huenachi of Wenatchee concert at the Orcas Center. This was a magnificent performance of 34 high school students who have invested hundreds of hours of their time in rehearsals for concerts that are presented at select places that include home games of the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Mariners, on the networks ABC and Fox along with a gala performance at the Orcas Center.
This dedicated group has been at many other communities within Washington.
This premier Mariachi team is composed of students playing 15 violins, 3 trumpets, 2 guitarons, 4 guitars, 4 vihuelas along with 7 excellent dancers. Their dedicated director is Mr. Roman Rivera who has worked to ensure they all people of this group are excellent academic scholars, superior musicians and sensational singers.
Their stage presence and composure verifies their discipline and training. Each student has a clear goal of where he or she will attend college and how they will contribute to the vitality of their community and to our nation. Each member of this team has memorized the music and lyrics of over 50 tunes, which means that they do not depend on printed music for their performance.
Thank you to Camp Orkila for providing lodging and meals for this group of students. They consider Orcas Island their favorite destination. Thanks to Island Market for the dessert reception.
Orcas Island is honored that this superior group of musicians and dancers want to perform on our island each
year. It is important that attendance at this event improve. There were many empty seats at the theatre.
Those of you who did not attend missed one of the grand events at the Orcas Center. The pleasure of enjoying
this “professional” performance is beyond measure. The cost is only $10 per person. Please plan on
attending this event when they return in 2016.
You support next year is essential. This group of talented students is an inspiration with a positive message
about the future of our society and our nation.
We had the pleasure of seeing them at Camp Orkila where we were holding our Quilters Retreat. They are an amazing group of young musicians who are totally vested in doing their best both in school and playing for the State of Washington. They gave us a short program Sunday morning after breakfast and were rewarded with many smiles and applauses from our group. They are definitely a group not to be missed and hope before the end of January next year that more advertising is done about their upcoming performance.
Although there was heartbreak in those traditional vocals Saturday evening, there was only joy in this show. Even if you’re not sure you love Mariachi, you’ll have every reason to love this show, if we’re lucky enough to have Mariachi Huenachi return!
This is a high-school music-, dance-, cultural-program success story extraordinario. These young people will bring lagrimas to your ojos. You might even enjoy the cornball emceeing of their doting director, Senor Rivera.
This beautiful program and spectaculo are examples of what can be good about a free(-er) and open(-er) community. Thanks added to Camp Orkila. Huge fan.