Mariachi Milagro goes solo after 10 years

With no director, the independent mariachi group Milagro (or “miracle” in English),
has been able to combine violins, trumpets, guitars and a guitarron – a small-scale acoustic bass – into a sound that can be fully appreciated only in person.
Over the past 10 years, the group of teenagers has competed together, lost members, gained members, had four directors, recorded a CD and almost stopped playing. But Milagro’s members still continue to play but now with a different purpose — fun.
Mariachi Milagro started in 1997, when Alfredo Valenzuela, mariachi director for Davis Elementary, was approached by a group of recent graduates from his mariachi class. Along with the students’ parents, they persuaded Valenzuela to continue to direct them, even though they would be moving on to different schools.
“At Davis Elementary, being in mariachi was the thing to do. Everyone did it,” said violinist Adrienne Perez, who will attend the University of Arizona this fall. “We wanted to continue to play after we finished second grade because it was like our sport that we were passionate about.”
After being involved with Davis Elementary and another mariachi group, Valenzuela found a director that was capable of teaching the group. In six months, the group had three directors until the 40-member group was finally given to Alfredo Valenzuela’s son Jaime Valenzuela. For eight years, Jaime Valenzuela prepared the group for competitions and traveled with the group to places including New York, California, Florida, Illinois, Colorado and New Mexico for conferences.
In addition to traveling and competing, the group was booked once a week to play at events like quincañeras – when a Hispanic girl turns 15 years old – weddings and other formal occasions.
Confident that the group could lead itself, Jaime Valenzuela decided to retire as director of Milagro in December of 2006. There were many reasons why he decided to leave, including that some members dropped out and the pressure of a busy schedule. The main reason he left was because the group had transformed into young adults and could learn on their own.
“There were apprentices in the group that could practice and organize on their own,” Valenzuela said. “The group had reached their peak and the only way to go when you have reached your peak is stay at the same spot or go down.”
With 10 members in the group at the time Valenzuela stepped down, four members dropped out.
Now, with six members left, the group has a new purpose of playing for fun instead of being a show group. Twice a week they practice in the quiet room at Armory Park Retirement Center, with three original members taking a subtle leadership role.
Lisa Perez, parent of Adrienne Perez, occasionally books the group to play for various occasions. Charging $250 dollars an hour, the group is able to buy new Mariachi outfits, called charros, once a year and divide the rest of the money amongst themselves.
After an hour of practice, Jaime Valenzuela occupies the quiet room with his new group, Mariachi Tesoro, meaning, “treasure”. With ages ranging from 9 to 13 years old, Valenzuela hopes to transform the group to be like Milagro.
“I hope to make the group as successful as Milagro,” Valenzuela said. “This time I hope to make them less as a show group and keep as many members involved as I can. I want to keep them as a family and stay with them as long as I can.”
Chelye Smith, a recent graduate of Pima Vocational High School and Perez, both violinists for Milagro, stay after practice to help Valenzuela direct the new generation of Mariachi.
Though various Mariachi groups have approached members of Milagro to join, all members agree that they will only play in the same group but do not know how long the group will last. The group welcomes anyone who would like to join, because with six members they are a small group for a Mariachi.