Las Canciones de Los Vikings

In the words of Hans Christian Anderson, “Where words fail, music speaks.”

Mariachi music is a traditional type of Mexican music that is marked by a string ensemble and indigenous elements.

The Sunnyslope Mariachi Club (named El Orgullo Verde) started performing this year, and they continue to uplift their audiences and the community; it began as a conversation between two friends and has evolved into a show-stopping band that plays for events like Slopefest.

Although the club gives incredible performances, the highlight for some of the members is the community aspect and celebration of music.

Senior Armando Rocha Rochin, the club president, and Senior Ximena Hernandez, the social media manager and member of the band, are both very talented musicians who have prioritized music throughout their lives.

Rocha Rochin has loved music since he was a kid.

As a kid, it was one of the main things he found enjoyment in.

“My mom would put on records and I would just listen to them and dance around to the music,” Rochin said.

For Hernandez, she has played instruments since the fourth grade, plays a variety of percussion instruments now, and is in Sunnyslope Band.

Freshman Isabella Suarez, one of the singers in the Mariachi band, said, “When I heard that there was a club that I would be able to show off my passion for my culture, I was very intrigued and wanted to join right away.”

Their experience with music has grown with the club, and so has the community surrounding the club.

A community member asked the club to play at Slopefest; the club had a memorable performance at the event.

There, people were able to show their support; Hernandez said, “the crowd was very open.”

Suarez said, “Performing has been a very fun experience and I think that the best one was either opening for the band and orchestra or Slopefest.”

For Rocha Rochin, the band has given him an opportunity to gain leadership skills and learn how to share with and teach music to other people.

Overall the band is a place for the members to become better leaders, friends, and musicians: they believe that the music has a positive impact on the community and other people in Sunnyslope.

Hernandez said, “I feel like the Mariachi band helps people come out of their shell.”

The club has also impacted the members by providing an inclusive environment where the music lifts people’s spirits.

Hernandez said, “Everybody has their arms open, and that the music was the “glue” to her life- Hernandez always comes back to music.

The members emphasize that the music has the ability to impact lives in so many ways – friendship, community, and opportunity, and their commitment to the club stems from a deeper appreciation for Mariachi music.

Rocha Rochin explained that music allows people to express themselves because “there is no boundary in music.”