Future Ready Friday Feature: From West Texas to Washington D.C. with Lake View Mariachi

Future Ready Friday Feature: From West Texas to Washington D.C. with Lake View Mariachi

Looking to the future sometimes begins with being strongly rooted in the past. In this week’s Future Ready Friday feature, we celebrate the rich cultural history and vibrant sounds of Mariachi music as part of Hispanic Heritage Month, and highlight an incredible experience for five Lake View High School Mariachi students on a visit to Washington D.C.

This October, Lake View High School students Darren Anthony, Isaac Carrales-Rodriguez, Gabriel Gomez, Willie Rodriguez, and Dakody Sevier carefully packed up their treasured instruments, a beautiful vihuela, guitarrón, armonia (guitar) and a glistening trumpet, and their traditional Mariachi uniforms with silvery blue embroidery in the style of Mexican charros with Lake View emblems emblazoned on sleeves and wide-brimmed sombreros. 

The five members are part of the award-winning Mariachi Los Caciques, a premier musical ensemble at Lake View and point of pride for San Angelo ISD and West Texas, and were headed to Washington D.C. The once-in-a-lifetime trip celebrated the talents of the students while providing opportunities to perform, explore and network with leaders like the Ambassador of the European Union to the United States, Stavros Lambrinidis.

“I’m very proud of our students and our mariachi program. It’s amazing to have the support of our community, our administration and our parents. My next goal is to find a path for the entire mariachi class to perform in Washington D.C. for our President! We’ve come this far, why not reach for the stars?” said Mariachi Director Rosendo Ramos. 

San Angelo ISD is proud to support the hopes and dreams of our students and celebrate all the ways they are smart, and this unforgettable trip is one more way- working with supporters of public education to create an experience highlighting the students’ talents and potential. On the trip, the quintet participated in music seminars including one by White House pianist, Dr. Christopher Schmitt, visited historic sites like the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and Mt. Vernon, home of the first president of the United States, and showcased their talents with a performance at the Arts Club of Washington. The performance at the Arts Club of Washington was part of an event celebrating Hispanic heritage Month with a panel discussion exploring the intellectual contributions and political ascendancy of Latino professionals in the U.S. 

Students were able to enjoy the panel discussion prior to the performance, listening to panelist leaders like Mr. Arturo Rodriguez, President Emeritus, United Farm Workers Union, Mr. Fin Gómez, CBS News White House Producer, and Ms. Mercedes Garcia Perez, Head of Global Issues and Innovation at the Delegation of the European Union to the U.S.

“We couldn't be more excited for the opportunity that our mariachi program is having in Washington D.C. They are obviously an outstanding program here at Lake View and deserve all the recognition they receive,” said Lake View High School Principal Zach Ramirez.
“The students that have this opportunity are gaining an experience they will remember forever and I couldn’t be more proud and thrilled.”

San Angelo ISD appreciates the support and collaboration of our Director of Mariachi Rosendo Ramos, Mario Castillo, a San Angelo native and former school teacher who works as a lobbyist in Washington D.C. and supports Texas children and the arts, Ambassador Lambrinidis, the Arts Club of Washington and our community and families who partner with us to lift up the hopes and dreams of our students and provide them unique opportunities like this trip to our nation’s capital.

Future Ready Fridays

At San Angelo ISD, we are committed to our mission of engaging all students in a relevant and inspiring education that produces future-ready graduates. We value the hopes and dreams of each child, and along their educational journey, provide students customizable options to prepare for their future. In celebration of this commitment in action, SAISD launched our “Future Ready Fridays” features in 2021 that will be shared on the third Friday of every month. Each Future Ready Friday we will feature different ways the District is supporting our students and helping them to be “future ready” whether that future is the military, workplace, further academic studies or other opportunities. Join along by sharing ways your San Angelo ISD student is being prepared for their future by using the hashtag #FutureReadyatSAISD.

To stay up-to-date on San Angelo ISD, please visit the SAISD website at www.saisd.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.