“It feels good, and free. I have the most fun in the world,” said Anthony Caldera, a mariachi student at Pasco high school. Anthony Caldera was not necessarily born into the music life. His grandpa was a carpenter but played piano for his local church. On his spare time, he taught Anthony how to play the piano when he was eight or nine years old. He played the piano for a while until he moved on to the guitar and the saxophone. In middle school, Anthony played in jazz band for his school. The school always needed a saxophone player, and he was always the one to volunteer. He always had a passion for music, just like his father. His father was a great musician his whole life, and even started his own band when he was sixteen. He was also invited to the Grammy’s to be in the top contestants. He didn’t get first place, but he still got a medal for hard work. When Anthony got to high school, he signed up to be in the mariachi band. He started his first year playing the guitar for the band and sang. Anthony got inspired from his dad and still gets inspiration to keep singing. When concerts come along, he always gets nervous to sing in front of a big crowd. He got used to singing in front of a big crowd but gets a little nervous from time to time. Now, when a concert begins, he feels excitement to sing to a big crowd and to his family. For his second year, he started to play the vihuela and he will keep singing. “I wouldn’t say it’s my lifestyle … more like a hobby,” proclaimed Anthony.  

Anthony claims that he is not sure whether he should make music his main career since he is currently interested in engineering. “Nanotechnology” is what Anthony answered when asked what type of engineering he was interested in. “Testing the limits of nanotechnology” is a goal that Anthony is invested in achieving. In the future, Anthony wishes to create his own company, as of now he is unsure what he will name said company. In his spare time, he listens to a lot of classic rock, blues, and neo-soul. In addition, Anthony has spoken about how he wants to learn these genres, because he plays mainly mariachi. In five years, he only sees himself becoming an engineer, his determination and perseverance is something to be admired. 

Anthony, one of the many talented teens in mariachi, is a part of much more than just picking up an instrument and learning how to play. In mariachi, a person learns how to play for big gatherings and special events. They also learn about different play styles, and more. Another part of mariachi is playing with the folkloric dance group. The folkloric dance is a traditional dance that accompanies the mariachi. The mariachi and folkloric dance plays for the 5 de mayo festival in downtown Pasco. A special event that the mariachi does every year is Mariachi Madness. Mariachi Madness is an event that is done at the end of May every year. The mariachi’s from Chiawana High School, Pasco High School, and Ochoa Middle School come together to play a concert with music that they learned. By the end of the event, all three groups play one song together for the finale.  

Pasco High School’s mariachi band first started around 2008-2009. Osbaldo Chavez, mariachi’s current teacher first started teaching mariachi at Pasco high in 2017. Mr. Chavez has described teaching mariachi as “really awesome.” A favorable quality of teaching was seeing his kids progress through musical challenges, he noted. Evidently, Mr. Chavez connects with his students through his ability to see himself in his students, as he was also in mariachi class as a kid. When Mr. Chavez started his first year in Pasco High’s mariachi class, he noticed how considerably small his class was. Through his time being here, he amassed a larger class of students, not letting any setbacks phase him. Looking back at Mr. Chavez’s humble beginnings and fresh out of high school, he became a para–educator as a side job, assisting other mariachi teachers he previously knew at his school. All of this while still attending college. In addition, Mr. Chavez assisted students in programs for middle schools and elementary schools. Later in his life, Chavez would attend musical conferences that consisted of highly talented musicians throughout the world, at the age of sixteen! He traveled to New Mexico and New York, as well as other places for these conferences. Ultimately, Mr. Chavez is still looking for those interested in mariachi. If any student currently has a musical background, whether it be singing or playing an instrument, or you’re currently in another musical class, or just interested in mariachi, any student can definitely join!