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Mariachi Workshop for Music Educators
This three-day mariachi teacher training workshop is designed to provide music educators with a comprehensive introduction to teaching mariachi music. Participants will explore the historical and cultural context of mariachi, examine various subgenres, and engage with strategies for teaching the genre authentically in educational settings. The workshop includes hands-on experience with traditional mariachi instruments and is appropriate for educators with varying levels of familiarity, from those new to mariachi to those with established programs seeking to deepen their understanding and practice.
Presented by:
MSU Denver Music Department and Cuerdas Y Canciones Center for Mariachi Arts and Culture
Registration Information
Registration Details
What: Mariachi Teacher Training Workshop for Music Educators
When: July 15-17, 2025; 9:30 am – 3:00 pm daily
Three-Day Course Cost: $200
Mariachi Workshop Teachers
Priscilla Arasaki
Priscilla Arasaki holds a Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. As a violinist, she has studied with Strelsa Burks, Eugene Gratovich, and Harumi Rhodes, and has received teacher training certification through the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Currently, Priscilla is the Orchestra and Mariachi director at Sunset Middle School in the St. Vrain Valley School District. She began her teaching career in Austin, Texas, later moving to Colorado where she developed an interest in mariachi. Priscilla established a mariachi program at Skyline High School and has since expanded mariachi ensembles throughout the district. Additionally, she is a member of Las Dahlias, an all-female mariachi group that has performed with the Colorado Symphony and at Governor Polis’ Inaugural Blue Sneaker Ball, promoting mariachi music across the Front Range.
Marialuisa Meza-Burgos
Marialuisa Meza-Burgos is a vocalist, musician, and Mariachi artist with over 20 years of experience specializing in Mariachi music. She serves as vocalist and vihuela player for Las Dahlias, Colorado’s premier all-female Mariachi ensemble. Mari holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music from MSU Denver and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre from Naropa University. Her deep passion for cultural preservation led her to co-found Cuerdas y Canciones Center for Mariachi Arts and Culture, an organization dedicated to sustaining and elevating Mariachi traditions.
In addition to her performance career, Mari is a dedicated educator. She teaches beginner voice and provides private instruction in armonía and Mariachi voice for the Colorado Youth Mariachi Program, helping to inspire and train the next generation of Mariachi musicians.
