Irrigon Junior/Senior High School added some extra excitement to their conferences this October. On Wednesday, October 22, the school's Mariachi group entertained parents and their families with its first public performance.
The group was set up in the Irrigon Junior/Senior High School cafeteria. Students, staff and parents trickled in as they heard the music emanating through the halls from the cafeteria doors.
According to Carlos Mendoza, drummer and junior at Irrigon Jr/Sr High, the students are part of a Mariachi music class through their high school.
“We have class time where we can play and rehearse, but we also have jam sessions on the side. Honestly, all of us kind of wanted a music class, and then we thought, 'Well, what if the school had a mariachi?'"
Of this question, a new class was born, the Mariachi Class.
Their first public “tanda,” or set, was about 12 minutes long, featuring four songs in regional styles of Mexican music. The group opened their set with “Playa Sola,” by Los Invasores de Nuevo León." The second song played was “Ese Lunar,” originally popularized by Los Alegres de Terán. The third song was “Las Mañanitas,” a traditional birthday song composed by Manuel M. Ponce. The group closed the set with “Flor Hermosa” by Los Cuates de Sinaloa. Their final notes were met with smiles and applause from students, parents, and staff alike.
"It feels really fun but also kind of nerve-wracking because it’s like people you already know and see every day. I play in another group on the side, and it’s different from doing it here,” said sophomore Edward Salas.
When administrators show their students that they value their input and heritage, it shows the students that they are being represented in their schools at a systemic level, not a superficial one. As students see their community embrace them as a whole, it makes them want to become better community members.
“It’s important to have a class like this because, like, half of our school is Hispanic or understands Spanish,” said Mendoza.
Irrigon Jr/Sr High School is one of three high schools in the Morrow County School District. According to the most recent census, over 40% of Morrow County residents were reported to be of a Hispanic background.
This new Mariachi class not only helps students feel represented, but also enables them to engage more deeply with the material. Beyond increasing student representation, educational research shows that genuine engagement with subject matter fosters a stronger connection to academic content and leads to a deeper overall understanding. Additionally, the class introduces students to a new and diverse world of sounds.
It is clear that passion drives this endeavor, students stayed and kept playing even after their set was over, refining their set for their next show.
Watch the full performance: