Contact: Phillip Gabriel Garcia (EPYSO Music Director) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tel: 915.820.2952
Email: maestro@epyso.com
Celebrate Mother’s Day With the 2ND Annual Presentation of
“Mariachis for Mom”
An Event Honoring Mother’s Day and the Rich Hispanic Heritage of the El Paso Area.
El Paso, TX April 23rd, 2009 — The El Paso Youth Symphony Orchestra(EPYSO) and El Paso Area Teachers Federal Credit Union presents its 2nd Annual Mother’s Day Tribute at The Plaza Theatre on Saturday May 9th at 2PM. The “Mariachis for Mom” series furthers EPYSO’s goal of nurturing area music students by providing the opportunity for young musicians to perform in this prestigious event alongside professional musicians. "Mariachis for Mom" is also serving as a catalyst for the planned "El Paso International Mariachi Conference" that EPYSO has scheduled for Downtown El Paso in the Fall of 2010 to coincide with the celebrations of the Centennial of the Mexican Revolution.
This year’s event will headline El Mariachi Tapatio as they perform alongside EPYSO with guest vocalists Lorenzo Mendez and Juan Contreras of Los Arrieros. Performances will include such legendary songs as Granada, Jurame and many more. Also on the program will be Mariachi Tierra Del Sol, Montwood High School’s Sangre Mexicana and the YISD All-District Mariachis. Additional performances by Ballet Folklorico de El Paso and Folklorico de Paso del Norte who will be performing their Danza de los Machetes. “Mariachis for Mom” is sponsored by the El Paso Area Teachers Federal Credit Union, Perky Press, and Vista Hills Rotary.
El Mariachi Tapatio, under the direction of Amelia Garcia, was founded in March 2006 and ranges in age from 13-34. Since its inception, Mariachi Tapatio has had various opportunities that have brought them recognition throughout the Southwest. They have shared the stage with artists such as Maria Elena Leal (daughter of the late Lola Beltran), Pedro Fernandez, Pedro Infante Jr., Rafael Palomar (former guitarist of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan), and one of our local stars, Lorenzo Mendez. Most recently, Mariachi Tapatio was awarded first place at the 2007 Albuquerque Mariachi Spectacular. Along with this award came the honor and privilege of working with various mariachi icons such as Don Jesus Rodriguez de Hijar, Don Miguel Martinez, Rigoberto Alfaro, Jose Hernandez, Sergio Caratachea, and Rafael Palomar. They have also shared the stage with groups such as Mariachi Sol de Mexico, Mariachi Internacional Guadalajara.
Lorenzo Mendez has already established a name for himself at the age of 21 with an extensive background. He has released his own CD with Fonovisa/Univision Records which was produced by Manuel Cazares, who has previously made hit records for Pepe Aguilar, Pablo Montero and Juan Gabriel. He has been a stage performer since the age of seven and been a featured singer several times on Sabado Gigante, El Gordo y la Flaca, Escandolo TV, and Buenos Dias con Maria Antonieta Collins. Mendez has also had the honor to open up and share the stage with amazing artists like Pepe Aguilar, Pedro Fernandez, The Cumbia Kings, Fito Olivarez, Los Tigres Del Norte, Olga Tanon, Camila, Marco Antonio Solis, Ana Barbara, Jenny Rivera, Luipillo Rivera, Yuri, El General and Conjunto Primavera.
Folklorico de Paso Del Norte is a non-Profit organization that expresses the folklore of Mexico through song and dance. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, this prestigious dance company is made up of experienced dancers in the
-Continued-
age range of 15-30. On April 26th they will have the great honor of performing with Linda Ronstadt and Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano at the MerleFest in Wilkesboro, NC.
The El Paso Youth Symphony Orchestra, a non-profit organization, works under the instruction of Music Director Maestro Phillip Gabriel Garcia who initiated it while a senior at Hanks High School in 1993. Its programs include six ensembles, a conductor apprenticeship, the newly created Children’s Opera Theater directed by Kimberly Wolfenbarger-Nakamoto and it is currently in the process of creating an Instrument Bank for students that cannot afford to buy or rent an instrument. Membership is free of charge and available to current students 10-25 years of age. EPYSO is continually expanding its audience base and seeking new artistic challenges for its students. It seeks to bring cutting edge performances outside the norm of what is commonly offered amongst most symphonies. EPYSO embraces a new philosophy of orchestral performance in which it encourages an audience’s spontaneous whoops, hollers, cheers and applauds whenever the moment moves them. Maestro Garcia states, "It is this very excitement which inspires students to continue to progress upon their artistic talents and aspirations."
General Information:
Saturday May 9th at 2pm at the Plaza Theatre
Tickets: $10 - $25 at the Plaza Box Office or online at www.ticketmaster.com
915.820.2952 or go to www.epyso.com for further info
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For further information or to schedule an interview contact:
Phillip Garcia, EPYSO 915.820.2952 or maestro@epyso.com
Rob Carrillo, EPYSO 915.433.4457 or rcarr1575@aol.com

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