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Last night was another bittersweet milestone on the Mariachi Miracle trail.

 

The event was Pueblo High School’s annual Noche de Mariachi show – the final performance of the year at the school for Mariachi Aztlán, and a showcase for graduating seniors.

 

This year nine members of Mariachi Aztlán are about to don the cap and gown and graduate on May 25. All are young men and women I have gotten to know, and who I have watched grow as musicians and people.

 

Soon they will be heading off into the world as more confident and empowered individuals.

 

 

But last night was a celebration for family and friends. Aztlán brought its “A” game.

 

There were other performers on the bill as well, including Mariachi Los Pumas, Pueblo’s beginning and intermediate mariachis, Mariachi Milagro, and Pueblo’s Ballet Folklorico Los Guerreros. All performed at their peak and thoroughly entertained the crowd.

 

But when the moment came before Aztlán‘s show-capping set when director John Contreras called the nine seniors to the stage, everyone knew it would be a joyful and emotional time.

 

A moment latter, Contreras invited the parents to the stage and asked them to stand behind their son or daughter. Each set of parents brought with them a shadow box – a collage of photos and little objects representing their child’s days in Mariachi Aztlán and in life. No of the seniors had seen theirs before.

 

Contreras went down the line, introducing each of the seniors and telling a personal – often funny – story about each. Every story conveyed the pride he had in what each student had done. And when he finished the story, the parents of each student presented the shadow box. Hugs, tears and general joy washed from the stage to the crowd in attendance.

 

When Contreras finished, the parents returned to their seats, the seniors grabbed their instruments and joined the rest of Aztlán, and a powerful, fun-packed final set was delivered. People hung out in the aisles after the show, not wanting the night to end.

 

This is just what happened at Pueblo High last night. Similar final shows have been going on all around the city in the past few weeks, and the scene could have as easily been at Cholla, Sunnyside, Tucson High, or even in private groups such as Los Changuitos Feos.

 

What these programs are building is not just amazing young musicians and dancers They build the professionals, teachers, service men and women and leaders of our community, our state, nation and world. They are graduating individuals with the life skills to take on any challenge the world throws at them, grapple with it, and produce the best possible outcome that can be achieved.

See this happen year after year in filming The Mariachi Miracle gives me such respect for these young musicians and dancers, their parents and families, teachers and administrators, board members and all of the tremendous members of the support groups each of these organizations has behind this.

 

Moments like last night at Pueblo High School are the heart and soul of what The Mariachi Miracle is all about.

 

Others are coming up. On Monday, the recently-recruited members of Mariachi Aztlán’s 2017/18 performing group will be joining the non-seniors to rehearse for graduation. Graduation itself will take place May 25. And then the cycle starts all over again next fall, filling the pipeline with generations of talented young people ready to face the world.