Mariachi Huenachi

This spirited band of over two dozen young musicians will perform the traditional mariachi tunes of Mexico at Orcas Center on Friday, Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. Earlier that day the band will play for an all school assembly in the Orcas High School gym at 2 p.m.

Mariachi Huenachi from Wenatchee has earned the reputation as being one of the best high school mariachis in the state of Washington. The group has appeared at various festivals, performed for the Seattle Seahawks, Washington State University, University of Idaho, Seattle Mariners, and Governor Gregoire. The group is directed by Ramon Rivera and Aaron Davis.

Since the 1930s, the mariachi has been widely considered a folk-derived cornerstone of Mexican music and culture with stringed and brass instrumentation.

Orcas High School students will host the Mariachi Huenachi students at a dinner prepared by Music Boosters at the school, while the community will be treated to traditional Mexican food beginning at 6 p.m. in the Madrona Room prior to the 7:30 performance.

Tickets are $5 and available at www.orcascenter.org or at 376-ACT1.

MAG concert

Now in its 12th year, the Music Advocacy Group (MAG) will once again present Music, Music, Music! with the help of The Orcas Choral Society directed by Catherine Pederson, The Community Band directed by Joe Babcock, Island Sinfonia directed by Lizz Hanks and the Fifth and Sixth Grade Strings and Choir directed by Pamela Wright. The annual concert is the group’s only fundraising event and supports the public school music program.

The concert will be on Sunday, March 1 at 3 p.m. in the Old School Gym. A reception will be held in the cafeteria following the performance.

MAG has underwritten the purchase and repair of instruments, costumes for choral concerts, equipment and fixtures for the school music classrooms, software, student scholarships, teacher salaries and more.

Music instruction is guided by two teachers, Pamela Wright and Lizz Hanks, who emphasize the development of individual skills and musical literacy. Music instruction strives to nurture personal artistic expression and, directly and indirectly, to promote student’s academic success, discipline, leadership and communication skills, as well as developing a set of habits and attitudes that will serve them well as adults.

“My students and I are honored to perform alongside our community’s musicians on behalf of our school music program,” said Wright.

Admission is open to all and donations are accepted to MAG, a 501(c)(3) organization.