For the first time in CHS history, a mariachi band has entered the scene in the form of a new club, thanks to a grant from the Carlsbad Education Foundation. The club hopes to bring students together and inspire young minds through mariachi music.
The Mariachi Club, established by orchestra teachers Kristen Allen-Benes at CHS and Juilana Quiñones at Sage Creek High School, aims to provide more opportunities for students interested in mariachi music. Inspired by the rich culture surrounding mariachi music, they not only wanted students to have exposure to the genre but also to feel represented among the student body.
“I just thought it was such a missed opportunity in the school district as big as we are with Sage and with Carlsbad High School,” Allen-Benes said. “We have a huge Hispanic and Latino population. It just surprised me that there was nothing like that.”
Throughout the year, the club hopes that students who have joined will be given opportunities to perform on stage, even if only for a short performance. Currently, the club has been focusing on practice, but their first official performance is on October 30th. This event is the Carlsbad Unified String Collection (CUSC) combined October orchestra concert, featuring performances from both Sage Creek and CHS.
“I would love to do one performance at least, just to showcase them,” Allen-Benes said. “Maybe not an entire performance, but maybe they play at a band concert and just do one number to give them the experience to kids who have never played on stage before.”
The club aims to include students from all backgrounds. In the past, CHS has only offered band and orchestra. Now, the mariachi band club provides more musical opportunities for students by introducing a different genre and providing a community for students with experience.
“We have a lot of talent on campus, but a lot of those people don’t fit in the choir, band, or orchestra environments,” Allen-Benes said. “But they still have this talent, or maybe they have experience with mariachi within their family.”
Studies show that multicultural programs on school campuses can influence participating students’ cultural identity by encouraging cultural awareness and social connections. The mariachi program could provide similar results, as the club hopes to foster connections between students.
“I want the students to open their minds to the cultural benefits of coming together and maybe putting aside ego or disagreements,” Allen-Benes said. “Because coming together, oftentimes, just heals people.”
A unique aspect of the club is its collaboration between students from both CHS and Sage Creek High. Providing an opportunity for students from different schools to foster more connections, students will learn, practice, practice, and perform together.
“I would love for Sage and Carlsbad people to connect more,” Allen-Benes said. “I feel a lot of times there’s some animosity between the schools.”
Beyond just learning to play an instrument, the club aims to develop students’ skills and values that not only improve their confidence but also introduce them to cultures beyond band and orchestra. Students will learn collaborative skills while working on pieces with their fellow members, and will gain confidence when performing.
“I hope students…keep working on [their] determination and to never give up,” Allen-Benes said. “That will, in the future, manifest tenfold and be so much better for them in their life.”
While members learn and play music, they also promote student inclusivity throughout the district by offering many opportunities to connect and build social communities. The club is a great way to inspire students while also supporting Latino, Mexican, and Hispanic cultures.
“[We want to] put our name out there so people know that we exist, even if it only remains a small club,” Allen-Benes said. “It’s important that we have a place for anyone interested in this music to join and belong.”
