In The News: School of Music
The iconic Mariachi Extravaganza, a celebrated music festival based in San Antonio, has expanded its reach to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the first time. The inaugural Mariachi Extravaganza Las Vegas – West Coast Region featured the nation's top school-based mariachi groups and vocalists competing for the title of reigning champions. The event is a collaborative effort between the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) School of Music and MPR, the producers of the Mariachi Extravaganza.
Mariachi is a musical touchstone of Mexico and the American Southwest — and a growing part of U.S. music education. Clark County high schools are embracing it, with more than 8,000 students in its mariachi programs — the most in the country. The College of Southern Nevada's Mariachi Plata band has found national success in competitions.
The chamber orchestra strives to attain the highest standards in performing an array of classical repertoire for diverse audiences while regularly featuring outstanding soloists and guest conductors. As part of its active performance and touring schedule, the Sinfonietta has partnered with many other musical organizations, such as the Vegas City Opera, the Las Vegas Master Singers, the UNLV Chamber Chorale, the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society and the Las Vegas Academy.
The Vegas City Opera is celebrating 15 seasons! Executive Director, Ginger Land-Van Buuren and UNLV Professor of Voice Jawan Jenkins joined Las Vegas Now for a preview of what’s to come.
The UNLV Chorus is bringing in a very famous LA Women's Choir called Vox Femina. They're doing a performance at UNLV on October 27th, centered around voting and the women's suffrage movement.
Some were displaced during the war. One was tossed from a cattle train en route from Paris to Auschwitz. Another survived Dachau. These violins, long associated with the Holocaust, have been restored by father-and-son instrument makers Amnon and Avshalom Weinstein as part of their Violins of Hope project. The instruments will be celebrated, and played, this weekend in two concerts.
The Las Vegas Sinfonietta, a professional chamber orchestra, will kick off its fifth concert season this weekend with a historically significant performance. The season’s opening concert, “Violins of Hope,” is a powerful tribute to the resilience and spirit of Holocaust survivors.
Las Vegas has its fair share of native celebrities like Ne-Yo, The Killers, Imagine Dragons, and future celebrities are being made right now. In October, the culture issue in our city-regional magazine, Desert Companion, will feature in Ones To Watch. These are profiles of interesting up-and-coming local artists or performers.
For the first time the University of Nevada, Las Vegas is debuting a mariachi program exploring the traditional Mexican folk music that originated in the late 1800s. “The culture is just so rich. The music is one of the most beautiful kinds of music I’ve heard in my life,” Stephen Blanco, director of mariachi for UNLV’s School of Music, said.
For the first time the University of Nevada, Las Vegas is debuting a mariachi program exploring the traditional Mexican folk music that originated in the late 1800s. “The culture is just so rich. The music is one of the most beautiful kinds of music I’ve heard in my life,” Stephen Blanco, director of mariachi for UNLV’s School of Music, said.
We all have that one friend who is shockingly adept at all things music-related. Whether they do it professionally or merely whip out their violin on special occasions, you can't help but wonder where their innate talent came from.
