“Sonidos de San Antonio” will feature a blend of musical styles, including Tejano and conjunto, at the Empire Theatre.
SAN ANTONIO — The sounds of Tejano and Conjunto will fill the stage Wednesday night as a concert brings together legendary performers and a trailblazing student ensemble.
“Sonidos de San Antonio” will feature a blend of musical styles, including Tejano and conjunto, at the Empire Theatre. The University of Texas at San Antonio Tejano Ensemble ‘Sonido Tejano’ will perform alongside industry icons such as Little Joe, Ruben Ramos, Santiago Jiménez Jr., Ram Herrera, Patsy Torres and Mariachi Los Paisanos.
They will also be performing with their artist and teacher Shelly Lares.
The ensemble, made up of 14 students, is part of a first-of-its-kind program that brings together multiple styles within Tejano music from traditional conjunto, rooted in accordion-based sounds, to orchestral arrangements and more modern, keyboard-driven influences.
“This is the first time stylistically that an ensemble is implementing all the stylistics that make up Tejano,” Lares said. “We are the first university to implement all of that.”
Beyond performance, students in the program study the history and evolution of the genre while working directly with established artists.
“They are not only learning how to play the stylistics of it, but they are learning about it,” Lares said. “They are getting to meet a lot of the musicians and artists, and they are backing up icons and innovators of the sound.”
Michael Acevedo, who co-teaches the ensemble, said students benefit from direct access to professionals in the industry.
“The access and knowledge that these students have, it is direct access,” Acevedo said. “You don’t have to email somebody.”
During a recent rehearsal, students collaborated with Tejano and Texas country artist Sunny Sauceda, performing his cumbia hit “Vueltas y Vueltas.” Sauceda emphasized the importance of programs like this in preserving and advancing the genre.
“This is the first of its kind,” Sauceda said. “There has never been a full-on Tejano ensemble program in the United States of America. So, this is historical.”
Students will join Sauceda and other artists on stage during Wednesday’s concert, an opportunity Lares said will leave a lasting impact.
“I want this moment for them to be something they remember for the rest of their lives,” she said.
Among those students is 19-year-old Rodolfo Lechler, who hopes to become a neurosurgeon while continuing his passion for music. He said the concert holds special meaning for the group.
“The concert is something I am very much looking forward to,” Lechler said. “I’ve been telling everyone to get tickets. A lot of people don’t understand, this is our time to shine.”
The concert begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Empire Theatre. Tickets are still available for about $50, with proceeds benefiting student scholarships. If you are interested in going, click here.
