A Celebration of Women in the World of Mariachi in Vancouver

Comments 18 by Rebecca Bollwitt

In a rare showcase of female-led Mexican music, Las Estrellas de Vancouver join forces with Los Angeles-based guest singer Melinda Salcido, and the dancers of Nahualli Folklore for an evening of melodic rancheras, intense sones, and romantic boleros during ¡Viva México! a celebration of women in the world of mariachi.

Las Estrellas de Vancouver

¡Viva México! is a Celebration of Women in the World of Mariachi in Vancouver

Where: Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton St, Vancouver)
When: Friday, November 15, 2019 at 8:00pm
Tickets: Available online now for $25 »

More than just a concert, this not-to-be-missed experience is a journey through the contributions women have made to the world of mariachi.  

From the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema—beginning in the 1930s and lasting until the 1960s—to Las Adelitas, the first all-female group in Mexico City in the 1940s, the impact of women on Mexican mariachi music has been extraordinary.  

“I decided to create a show that kind of gives you a bit of everything in the culture and tell the story about mariachi and the contribution that women have made in mariachi music,” classical guitarist and Las Estrellas de Vancouver founder Michelle Cormier told me over the phone this week.

Michelle Cormier - Las Estrellas de Vancouver
Michelle Cormier, founder of Las Estrellas de Vancouver

The genre is typically dominated by men but there is some change coming about. Cormier says she loves to see women in the forefront of male groups, which she says is really empowering — and really impressive.

“At Plaza Garibaldi, Mariachi Plaza, you may see one group of women amongst all the men. They have to really carve their way and work extra hard to be there and to be accepted.” She has traveled extensively to Mexico and Los Angeles over the years, and is bringing her cultural knowledge and musical expertise to the Vancouver Playhouse stage, with a lineup of special guests.

Melinda Salcido will perform with the group, while Vancouver’s Nahualli Folklore Ensemble highlight the connections between Mexican folk dance (baile, or ballet, folklórico) and mariachi music. 

Cormier’s goal is to give the Vancouver audience they story of mariachi, through this performance, and provide examples of all its different styles. “It’s very broad, it usually plays and presents the music of every region of the country and sometimes it’s rancheras, the songs and the love stories, sometimes it’s more virtuosic pieces.”

Based on the experiences of living musicians, and informed by research of Mariachi Women’s Festival producer Dr. Leonor Xóchitl Perez, Las Estrellas de Vancouver will perform pieces that capture this evolving musical genre.

“It’s a medley of songs,” Cormier says that she wants to present the way the big mariachi groups do in Mexico and the United States, with sometimes one song containing four others. “I wanted to create this to make the story that much more complete, exciting and authentic.”

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to this groundbreaking and entertaining evening. Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Click below to post an entry on Twitter
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win tickets to Viva Mexico Featuring Las Estrellas de Vancouver and Nahualli Folklore @VLACC http://ow.ly/LzJ630pLKHu” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 9:00am on Tuesday, October 29, 2019. UDPATE: The winner is Edwin!

Current Contests on Miss604
*All contests are open to residents of Canada only, unless otherwise stated. Contest timelines are published on each individual post along with entry methods. Some contests may only be open to those 19 years of age and older. Winners are announced on the contest blog posts. Contest policy »

18 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. Jason BWednesday, October 23rd, 2019 — 3:49pm PDT

    great

  2. Tara LowryWednesday, October 23rd, 2019 — 5:51pm PDT

    Would love to go!

  3. Candace HWednesday, October 23rd, 2019 — 9:37pm PDT

    What an interesting evening this looks to be!

  4. LindaMThursday, October 24th, 2019 — 9:18am PDT

    Disfrutando

  5. Remy DhillonThursday, October 24th, 2019 — 9:48am PDT

    So fun!

  6. Yolande MorinThursday, October 24th, 2019 — 11:57am PDT

    This sounds like a wonderful concert with added dancers and musicians. Michelle always gives great concerts so this should be even better!!!

  7. SusanitaThursday, October 24th, 2019 — 12:58pm PDT

    mariachi? me gusto mucho!

  8. Shelley ButcherThursday, October 24th, 2019 — 5:35pm PDT

    This sounds like fun!

  9. Marcelle moussalliThursday, October 24th, 2019 — 9:21pm PDT

    I would love to win a pair of tickets
    Thx

  10. daneFriday, October 25th, 2019 — 5:36am PDT

    Cool

  11. WesFriday, October 25th, 2019 — 7:14am PDT

    Fun!

  12. Christine ThompsonFriday, October 25th, 2019 — 10:03am PDT

    Mariachi is so fun – love Los Dorados and great to learn about the women of mariachi

  13. Catherine HercusSaturday, October 26th, 2019 — 7:10am PDT

    Would be a great birthday present!

  14. Sunshine HSunday, October 27th, 2019 — 5:50pm PDT

    Would love to check this out!

  15. EileenSunday, October 27th, 2019 — 9:20pm PDT

    Sounds like fun!

  16. EdwinSunday, October 27th, 2019 — 10:14pm PDT

    We cannot wait for this! I want to take my daughter who is 9 and is getting so excited to learn more about her Mexican heritage. I want to show her what her heritage sounds like and even better, its an all women show! I hope this will inspire her to be even more proud of her heritage and it will inspire her to dream!

  17. AndreaMonday, October 28th, 2019 — 10:15am PDT

    Me and my sister would love going to this. We are currently learning spanish and are loving the culture!

  18. NeleMonday, October 28th, 2019 — 7:16pm PDT

    Ay caramba! I would love to see a mariachi band live!

Also on Miss604.com
«
»