The Hispanic Council’s annual mariachi concert raises scholarship funds to promote educational and vocational opportunities for Hispanic students through music and cultural celebration.
By Kirsten Wyatt
Staff Writer
Mariachi concerts are not the typical Sunday afternoon activity of the average Pepperdine student. But one day a year, members of the Pepperdine community gather with people of the Los Angeles area community for a very special mariachi concert.
The Pepperdine University Hispanic Council held its eighth annual Mariachi Concert Sunday at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. This afternoon of entertainment also served as a benefit for scholarships, as well as a chance to honor outstanding members of the Hispanic community.
A diverse mix of people filled the Fred Kavli Theatre eagerly anticipating mariachi music from Los Camperos de Nati Cano. Jorge Jarrin, president of the Hispanic Advisory Council, greeted the crowd with a mix of Spanish and English, followed by the director of Pepperdine’s Office of Hispanic Affairs, Israel Rodriguez.
Rodriguez explained the importance of the concert for the Spanish-speaking community and Spanish-speaking students in the Los Angeles area, citing the statistic that less than 20 percent of Hispanics receive college degrees. This benefit concert, therefore, is a way of promoting the importance of education in the Hispanic community.
The Hispanic Council’s Mission Statement says that its goal is “to cultivate and promote educational and vocational opportunities for Hispanic students by developing partnerships with the University, Hispanic alumni and friends, and the Hispanic community.”
To promote their mission, the Hispanic Council has a savings bond program. With the help of Bank of America, 57 fourth graders from more than 15 Los Angeles Area elementary schools were awarded with educational savings bonds in the hope that they will be inspired to pursue higher education.
Along with education, a major emphasis of the event was “Freedom’s Journey.” Rodriguez expressed his hope that no one will take their freedom for granted because so many people have died so that we may keep our freedom. He said this battle must constantly be fought, generation after generation.
An honorary Marine Corps Color Guard presented the flags, and an invocation was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and “The Star Spangled Banner,” sung by Cuban-American Carina Nuvo.
The concert officially started with “America’s Beloved Tenor,” Daniel Rodriguez, who is Puerto Rican-American and a member of the New York City Police Department. He was accompanied by a 38-piece orchestra — the largest in the history of the Hispanic Council’s Annual Mariachi Concert — under the direction of Tom Scott.
This first half of the concert was a tribute to American tenor Mario Lanza, featuring many of the songs Lanza made popular and famous, as well as an original costume from his most famous film, “The Great Caruso,” and Lanza’s own cufflinks worn by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez’s booming voice and charming personality were openly displayed from the moment he took the stage. He started off with “Be My Love,” belted out “Because” and “Drink Drink Drink,” and continued with other favorites, such as “Ave Maria” and “O Sole Mio,” which both earned Rodriguez standing ovations.
He was joined by the resident soprano of the Los Angeles Opera, Jessica Rivera, for two songs. Rodriguez also interacted with the audience in between each song, explaining the music and Lanza’s life and what it means to be such a successful Hispanic.
Following the intermission, to acknowledge Hispanic Heritage month, the Hispanic Council presented three El Faro awards, recognizing individuals who have made something of themselves.
Rosario Marin was honored for her contributions to the U.S. government. As the U.S. treasurer under President Bush, she was the highest-ranking Latin-American woman in the Bush administration, and she has now resigned to become a Republican candidate for United States Senate for California.
Businesswoman and presenter of the award, Rosemary Licata, called Marin “an inspiration to all — all of us — mostly Hispanic women and all women” and “a beacon of light and she is going to light the way.”
Moctesuma Esparza, producer of such films as “Selena” and “Gods and Generals,” was the second honoree, and Indian Uka Solanki, president and founder of Big Saver Goods, Inc., was honored because of “generosity and faith in our young people,” as noted by presenter Alex Otteras, Pepperdine graduate.
The second half of the show then began as Los Camperos took the stage in dramatic fashion amid whistles and calls from the eager crowd. The 12-piece ensemble was dressed in matching brown suits topped off by large traditional white hats. They played a variety of mariachi songs, including “Los Ciudades,” “Cielito Lindo,” and “La Boda de Luis Alanzo,” and were also joined by Rivera for a couple songs.
October 02, 2003