UNC School of Music Launches New Degree with ¡Celebremos! Festival of Latinx Music and Culture
September 18, 2023
Festival and concert including arts market, food truck, beer/wine tasting, mariachi and performances by UNC faculty, students and renowned pianist Alfredo Rodríguez
The University of Northern Colorado’s School of Music will celebrate the launch of its new cutting-edge Bachelor of Arts in Latinx Music degree program with a multifaceted cultural event on Oct. 13 at UNC Campus Commons. Doors will open at 5 p.m. for an arts market, Las Catrinas food truck, Mexican lager and South American wine tasting, art making and mariachi music. The concert at 7:30 p.m. will feature UNC students and faculty with the Compass Jazz Orchestra and University Symphony Orchestra, followed by renowned Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodríguez.
The new Latinx Music concentration is the first of its kind in the United States, giving students an in-depth look at the musical traditions of South and Central America as well as the Caribbean and Mexico. This concentration allows students to play in ensembles that honor music genres like mariachi, cumbia, tango, samba and others, and it intentionally emphasizes diversity, equity and inclusivity and the university’s commitment to becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution by 2025.
“[This concentration is] not audition based, which is a real revolution in the way that we have been thinking about our School of Music for a long time,” College of Performing and Visual Arts Dean Cristina Goletti said. “We are adding [this] to make sure that anybody who has a desire to study music at a university level can do so in an environment of excellence and dedication to music. “
This exciting event is made possible in part by The Weld Community Foundation Arts Alive! Fund and supported by generous partners such as High Country Beverage, UNC Galleries and other local vendors. All festival activities are free with the purchase of an adult concert ticket for the 7:30 p.m. feature concert. Tickets can be purchased at https://tickets.unco.edu/online/article/celebremos/.
UNC's College of Performing and Visual Arts provides a comprehensive arts education that prepares students to be flexible, innovative and well-rounded emerging professional artists, arts educators and scholars. As a cultural hub of UNC, the college celebrates creativity with the university, local community, surrounding region and wider arts world. For more information, visit arts.unco.edu.
