Mariachi Is A Way Of Life, Even During A Pandemic

Rebecca Ramirez still rehearses for Rio Grande City High School’s Mariachi Cascabel – she just does it from home.

By Joy DiazApril 17, 2020 7:27 am,

Social distancing and stay-at-home orders mean most group activities are on hold during the pandemic. But high schooler Rebecca Ramirez told Texas Standard that the Rio Grande City varsity mariachi band is still going strong, at least remotely.

Members of Mariachi Cascabel are practicing from home. And after each member records themselves, the band director mixes the recordings together for what’s close to a live-performance sound.

Mariachi is a way of life for Ramirez. There was a mariachi band at her baptism. And her grandfather was the one who encouraged her to be in a band as she got older. Sadly, he never got to see her perform.

“I had actually made the performing group. … I believe it was that same week that he passed away, so it was bittersweet,” she said.

Amid the pandemic, Ramirez is still looking toward the future. She hopes to attend the University of Texas at Austin, and eventually go to medical school and become a doctor – a doctor who plays violin in a mariachi band.

“I’ll be like, yes! That’s me!” she said.

 

Web story written by Caroline Covington.

 

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