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Mariachi Luz De Oro

Mariachi Luz de Oro is a 100% student-run organization and mariachi band that studies and performs traditional and contemporary Mexican music at the University of California, Berkeley. Created in the Fall of 2012 by Estefania Hernandez and Victor Muratalla, the group has grown to over 25 members and musicians spanning diverse majors and ethnic backgrounds. Reemerging from the COVID-19 pandemic with in-person activities permitted by the University, MLO, under the leadership of Nerissa Julie Cons (class of 2022), grew tremendously in numbers and continued to satisfy the mission of promoting musical and cultural diversity by increasing exposure to the Mexican art form of mariachi.

Today, Mariachi Luz de Oro is under the direction of co-chairs Guillermo González and Yvette Fragozo. The group’s current goals include maintaining a performing group that will continue to inspire the lives of Berkeley community members, financing new trajes de charro for all of its musicians, becoming recognized by the university as an official musical ensemble, being appointed a musical instructor or professor by the university, and establishing a Latinx ethnomusicology department and curriculum within the university’s music department. MLO hopes that their efforts will continue to help draw awareness and public support towards achieving these goals as a marginalized student organization on campus. We appreciate your support, muchas gracias!

Keep up with Mariachi Luz de Oro @UCBMLO on Instagram!

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