Mariachi Spectacular de Albuquerque caps conference with finale concert event

The Mariachi Spectacular de Albuquerque continues to keep the heart and soul of mariachi alive.

“(Mariachi is) a beautiful art form that means a lot to our state, because we’ve been running this conference and concert series for over 30 years in Albuquerque, and have become synonymous with where to go to learn the genre of mariachi,” Peter Sanchez, CEO of The Atrisco Companies, says.

The Spectacular is a five-day conference that started July 9 and ends Saturday, July 12. It features music workshops, a showcase and a Mass, culminating in the Mariachi Spectacular concert.

“The underlying event is a music conference where we bring master teachers, which we call maestros, from around the country and New Mexico, to teach various instrument classes at multiple levels, from beginning to advanced,” Sanchez says.

Sanchez says that people of all ages and from all over the country come to the event.

“They’ll never encounter teachers of this caliber in any other location,” Sanchez says. “We’re willing to pay the price and bring the talent to Albuquerque to then attract all the interested music learners.”

The last day of the event features a concert with professional musicians. Attendees of the conference can compete to open for the concert, according to Sanchez.

He says that it is important to give the competitors an opportunity to perform not only in front of a large crowd but also alongside the industry’s pros.

The final show features Leyendas Del Mariachi, Mariachi Las Catrinas, Mariachi Nuevo Mujer 2000 and the Ballet Folklórico Paso del Norte.

“They know them as iconic members of this professional music industry,” Sanchez says. “So it’s all about getting an opportunity to be in the same circles as people that you admire.”

The generations of music mix and make for an energetic night on the final day of the festival at the Mariachi Spectacular concert, says Sanchez.

“It’s a lot of energy because the people know these songs. They’re their parents’ songs (and) their grandparents’ songs,” Sanchez says. “So it’s amazing how many people in the audience will be singing along with all these songs. And so it’s just kind of an electric atmosphere on a very beautiful night.”

Mariachi Spectacular de Albuquerque caps conference with finale concert event