Wenatchee Public Library weaves culture into the community, hosting educational Mariachi music event

WENATCHEE—Local families danced and learned as the traditional Mariachi band Mariachi Noroeste performed at Wenatchee’s Centennial Park in partnership with Wenatchee Public Library (WPL) and NCW Libraries’ ongoing Mariachi, Music and Me program. 

Traveling all across the region, the program aims to increase Mexican representation within local libraries while breaking down cultural obstacles that may deter those without Latinx heritage from learning more about the fascinating Latinx cultures of the NCW. 

Latinx Services Manager at NCW Libraries, Claudia Bovee, explained her goals for the program and the important educational components that it provides. 

“My vision in bringing was really removing that barrier that some folks might have in seeing a mariachi concert or seeing themselves represented in the library program,” Bovee shared. 

Mariachi, Music, and Me events consist of traditional musical performances by Mariachi Noroeste accompanied by educational interjections from lead performer and violinist Yajayra Ramirez. 

Bovee detailed the engaging historical and cultural work that Ramirez presents at each event. 

“Yajayra Ramirez, she’s one of the lead singers and the band manager. She’s the one that does the entire educational piece and she has been fantastic. You know, like explaining the history and then jumping right from that into belting out a song,” Bovee shared with admiration for Ramirez’s performance. “And for me, a lot of it I didn’t know, and I was born in Mexico. Yajayra does a great job of talking about like the number of buttons corresponds to the number of states in Mexico… and the patterns represent indigenous patterns, and I was like, ‘where else am I going to learn that?’ like, what a cool tidbit of information.”

Mariachi originated in the 18th century and has deep cultural roots all across North and South America, including the US, whose southern states like Texas, Arizona, and California were originally territories of Mexico. Mariachi’s deep influences also run all the way up to Washington State.

As Bovee shares, “It was really cool to hear a lot of the folks that have been coming to these shows, they remember their parents singing these songs, so it really brings that emotional family history and family tie to it.” 

NCW Libraries is planning three more Mariachi, Music, and Me performances from Mariachi Noroeste during the 2024 summer. On July 11, Mariachi Noroeste will perform at the Twisp Public Library at 1 p.m. and later that evening at the Pateros Public Library at 5 p.m. The program concludes for the year with its final show at the Manson Public Library at 10 a.m. on August 18.

Come experience the deep beauty of Mariachi and learn more about the Latinx cultures that invigorate the NCW with new life!

For more information about the Mariachi, Music, and Me program, visit ncwlibraries.org or call NCW Libraries Latinx Services at (509) 663-1117 ext. 148.

Will Nilles: (509) 731-3211 or will@ward.media