Concert Program

World Music Festival Concert Series

The Sounds of Mexico

Banda and Mariachi Joint Concert

Mariachi NIU, Jose-Antonio Ozuna, director
Banda NIU, Roberto De Leon, director

With
Son Jarocho NIU
Mariachi Los Pumas, Jovita Idár Elementary School
Mariachi Aguilas
Ballet Folklórico Aztlán de NIU

Thursday, April 9, 2026
7 pm
Boutell Memorial Concert Hall

Program

Banda NIU

Arriba Pichátaro | Daniel Plancarte Alexandres
El Pato Asado | Ramón López Alvarado
El Ahualulco | Gustavo Amador Santiago Fernández
Los Amores de Julia | Cruz Lizárraga
La Cuichi | trad.

Cuando El Destino | José Alfredo Jimenez
Costumbres | Juan Gabriel
with Mariachi NIU

Besos Y Copas | Víctor Cordero Aurrecoechea
A Cambio de Qué | Xavier Santos Córtes
Así Fue | Juan Gabriel
No Llega El Olvido | Espinoza Paz
Qué Me Vas A Dar | Alfonso Garcia, Ramon Ortega

Son Jarocho

Las Olas del Mar | trad. Veracruzano
La Bamba | trad. Veracruzano

~INTERMISSION~

Mariachi NIU

El Jalisciense  | Vicente Fernández (with Ballet Folklórico Aztlán de NIU)
La Marcha de Zacatecas | Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan
Te Quise Olvidar | Juan Gabriel
Ojitos Verdes | Mariachi Reyna De Los Ángeles
El Autlense | Mariachi Los Camperos
Caminos de Michoacán | Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlan
Trompetas del Diablo | Mariachi México de Pepe Villa
No Me Sé Rajar | Vicente Fernández
El Autlense  | Mariachi Los Camperos (with Ballet Folklórico Aztlán de NIU)
Arráncame la Vida | Pepe Aguilar
España Cañí | Mariachi Los Camperos
Hermoso Cariño | Vicente Fernández
Los Laureles | Linda Ronstadt
El Rey | Jose Alfredo Jiménez
Volver, Volver | Vicente Fernández
Y | Luis Miguel

Collaborative Selections with Mariachi Los Pumas & Mariachi Águilas
Marieta | Traditional song from the Mexican Revolution
Cielito Lindo | Quirino Mendoza y Cortés
Las Mañanitas | Traditional Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlán

Finale
El Son de la Negra| Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán
with Ballet Folklórico Aztlán de NIU

Ensemble Information

Banda NIU

Banda NIU honors the tradition of the great bandas of the western Mexican state of Sinaloa. Its long and rich history is drawn on collaboration between European immigrants to Mexico in the 1800s and popular Mexican song. With its roots in military and municipal bands performing at large outdoor events, Banda evolved over the past century, blending dance rhythms and song forms including the Son, Cumbia, Ranchera, Polka, Bolero, Vals, Merengue, Bachata, Corrido, Balada, Mambo and Cha-Cha-Cha.  Banda NIU brings the infectious energy of this exciting music to NIU through concerts as well as the surrounding community.

Roberto De Leon, director
Roberto De Leon is a drummer, steelpannist, tarolero, guitarrónero, and vihuelista from Chicago. A performer, arranger, and music educator is in Latin American music, De Leon specializes in Mexican Music. He is primarily a banda and mariachi musician, having performed with bandas and mariachis across the U.S. and Mexico.

De Leon has a bachelor’s degree and performer’s certificate in percussion from NIU, where he studied under Dr. Gregory Beyer and Ben Wahlund. He continued his musical endeavors with Banda Cuatro Estrellas and Mariachi Camino Real de Chicago, both of which he founded and directs. He is currently a mariachi instructor at Orozco Academy in Pilsen and working for the People’s Center for Cultural and Contemporary Arts, as well as a substitute teacher for Chicago Public Schools.

Members:

+ denotes section leader

Mariachi NIU

Founded on the principles of inclusivity and artistic excellence, Mariachi NIU brings together talented NIU students and community members to celebrate the rich musical heritage of Mexico. We offer a dynamic concert experience that resonates across cultural boundaries. We invite everyone with experience in violin, trumpet, guitar, vihuela, guitarrón, or harp and singing to join our ranks. The ensemble dedicates itself to bringing the spirit of Mexico to the Northern Illinois region through educational workshops, community festivals, and seasonal showcases.

Jose Antonio Ozuna, director
Jose Antonio Ozuna has over 30 years of experience in teaching and performing Mariachi. Passionate about nurturing a love for music in children from grades K-12, Mr. Ozuna is the founding Mariachi Music Teacher at Jovita Idár Elementary in Chicago, where they are celebrating 14 years of artistry and community. Throughout his career, Mr. Ozuna has been fortunate to receive recognition, such as the Teacher of the Year award in 2015 and acknowledgment from the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation in 2019. For Mr. Ozuna, however, the real treasures are the incredible moments he has shared with his students, performing on various stages in the Chicago area, including events for the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Fire FC, and even for Vice President Kamala Harris at UnidosUS.

Mr. Ozuna is excited to collaborate with the world music program and is eager to work with an extraordinary group of student musicians here at NIU. Together, he is looking forward to paving the way for future generations in music education through culturally responsive pedagogy, using Mariachi as an example. 

Members:

*  denotes guest performer

Son Jarocho Members

Matthew Díaz (guitarrón), Nathan Stade (requinto), Jonthan Arroyo (jarana), Eduardo Garcia (vocal), Alex Coronel & Erik Vazquez (cajón)