The Tejano Ensemble class at UT-San Antonio is a fast examine: Register, observe, carry out.
Lessons started in February. The primary live performance is April 15 on the Empire Theater.
The task: Again up seven legendary artists at Sonidos de San Antonio, a celebration of Tejano and Conjunto music to profit pupil scholarships at UT-San Antonio.
The performers are Tejano icons Shelly Lares, Little Joe, Ruben Ramos, Santiago Jimenez, Jr., Ram Herrera , Patsy Torres and Sunny Sauceda.
“The artists aren’t bringing their bands,” mentioned Shelly Lares, ensemble co-director and UT-San Antonio Artist in Residence. “The ensemble is backing up all these artists. And let me inform you: They’re nice musicians.”
Sonido Tejano, the UT-San Antonio ensemble, consists of 14 college students: three saxophonists, three keyboard gamers, two trumpeters, two percussionists, one drummer, one trombonist, one bass participant and one who performs accordion, bajo sexto and guitar.
“4 of them sing,” Lares mentioned.
Mariachi Los Paisanos, one other UT-San Antonio ensemble, will open the two-hour live performance, which begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 for normal admission and $100 for VIP Meet and Greet. Proceeds help the inaugural scholarship for Sonido Tejano.
Introduced by UT San Antonio, Shellshock Data 3 and JMT Studios, the live performance options artists who’ve formed the sound of South Texas.
Sauceda, a Grammy-winning accordionist, is happy to return to his dwelling, the place he started acting at age 5 for $5 an evening. At 18, he carried out with Eddie G and Grupo Vida on the Tejano circuit.
At Harlandale Excessive College, he was pulled out of a welding class and informed that the Queen of Tejano, Selena Quintanilla-Perez, had been slain.
“That was a devastating second in Tejano music,” he mentioned.
Sauceda met Lares in 1996 at a present in Corpus Christi. The accordionist in Lares’ band requested to borrow Sauceda’s instrument. A friendship fashioned. In 2002, Lares carried out at Sauceda’s wedding ceremony.
“I’ve a deep historical past with Shelly,” Sauceda mentioned. “She was a mentor to me once I was a younger artist and began in Tejano. I really like her dearly and I’m so pleased with what she’s doing.
“It’s going to be thrilling to be performing with friends who’re Tejano legends. And it’s thrilling to see we have now collegiate illustration in San Antonio. I’m joyful to help UTSA and Shelly.”
Lares works with Sonido Tejano each Monday night time, from 5:30 till 8 p.m. She teaches the instrumentation and stylistics of the style.
“As quickly as I realized we might have the category, I believed we’ll should throw a live performance and showcase these college students,” Lares mentioned. “We wish to present what we’re doing at UT-San Antonio. If this had been at a college once I was rising up, I might have enrolled in a heartbeat.”
