Krystal Moreno ’16 of Santa Ana, California first started playing Mariachi in her sophomore year of high school. A music teacher at her high school had initially proposed starting a Mariachi band in their school, and Moreno was one of the students who immediately expressed interest. “As a third generation Mexican-American, playing Mariachi was a way for me to connect with the culture of my grandparents,” she said.
From then on, Mariachi became an integral part of her high school years. “I did not, however, realize how important Mariachi had become in my life until I came to college,” she said. Moving from sunny Southern California to wetter, colder New England was definitely what did it for her. Although she was still in the same country, living on the east coast was a culture shock in its own way. Moreno was especially shocked to see the status of race relations at Conn and the lack of cultural representation of minority groups.
Missing the vibrancy of traditional Mexican music and wishing to bridge the gap between different racial and ethnic groups at Conn through the power of music, Moreno decided to start a Mariachi band right here at the College, Mariachi CONNCamellos. She initially posted all over campus, especially emphasizing that “everyone was welcome to join.” Mariachi is strongly associated with most Latino cultures, but it is especially connected to the culture of Mexico, a potential obstacle that Moreno particularly wished to overcome in order to attract more members. The project ultimately got off the ground in her sophomore year. There was a very positive reception on campus and enough interest to form a band of seven. The interested members came from a range of backgrounds. Further, they received initial funding from the Hispanic Studies department, an immense assistance in the early stages. There was also moral support from members of the Dining Services staff who were excited by Moreno’s efforts.
Depending on the schedules of members, the band has attempted to practice for approximately two hours a week, either twice a week for one hour or once a week for two hours. In the two years of its existence, the band has performed at various events, including events in Cro and on Tempel Green. With the support of the Admissions Office, they performed during Explore Weekend for prospective students who visited the campus, as a way of showing the cultural activities that take place at the College. Further, in the spring of 2014, the band performed for the cancer awareness and fundraising event Relay for Life. Mariachi has now become a Recognized Student Organization, or RSO, which means that SGA provides financial support for the group. It has become a part of students’ cultural experience at the College.
In the future, Moreno hopes that the band can move far beyond its current achievements as an artistic organization. These include collaborating with other campus organizations such as MEChA and Eclipse, which puts up an annual artistic performance to showcase the cultures of all ethnicities. Moreno’s dreams for the band, however, go far beyond the College. She hopes that the Connecticut College Mariachi Band can collaborate with the Mariachi Band from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Additionally, she hopes that the band and its performances can create ties with various Latino communities in New England, and become a means to help build better ties between the College and New London, which is especially important if the College is to move beyond its reputation of being rather like a bubble, “upon a hill.”
The formation and growth of Mariachi CONNCamellos provides an example of how students from underrepresented backgrounds at our predominantly white college can create and sustain events, organizations and spaces that celebrate their unique cultures and experiences while accommodating the entire campus and, indeed, the community beyond the College, in New London and elsewhere. The potential for such further diversification of the cultural experience at Connecticut College exists with the continued and expanded support of students, faculty, staff and administrators.
