Joliet District 86 student mariachi ensemble performs at state conference

The Joliet Public Schools District 86 All City Mariachi Ensemble recently performed at a state conference before Illinois educators, school board members and business leaders.

Student musicians from Gompers, Hufford and Washington junior high schools are part of the ensemble.

The band performed at the Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials Joint Annual Conference in Chicago, according to a news release from District 86.

In partnership with the Illinois Music Educators Association, five student groups showcased their music skills at the conference.

The students were all high school students, except District 86 junior high students, according to the release.

The Joliet Public Schools District 86 All City Mariachi Ensemble is comprised of student musicians from Gompers, Hufford, and Washington junior high schools. — The Joliet Public Schools District 86 All City Mariachi Ensemble is comprised of student musicians from Gompers, Hufford and Washington junior high schools. (Photo provided Joliet Public Schools District 86)

The featured students included: Alonso Arellano, Washington; Jose Arriaga Subias, Washington; Maritza Bautista, Washington; Ariana Campos, Hufford; Valeska Castellano Castellano, Gompers; Angel Cortez, Washington; Samantha Del Rio, Hufford; Genessis Diaz, Washington; Janessa Fuentes, Hufford; Diego Garcia, Gompers; Bryan Gomez, Washington; Kayla Gomez, Washington; Daniela Gonzalez, Gompers; Adrian Grimes, Hufford; Jared Juarez, Washington; Denise Mendoza, Hufford; Isai Mendoza, Hufford; Camila Patino, Hufford; Sofia Plascenscia, Gompers; Citlalli Ramos Lorenzo, Hufford; Aaleyah Ruiz, Gompers; Leonardo Ruiz, Gompers; Patricio Salcido Garcia, Gompers; Daniela Soria, Gompers; Bella Semplinski, Washington; Benjamin Tavera, Washington; Estefania Triana, Washington; and Juan Velasco Rueda, Gompers.

“I am beyond proud of these incredibly talented students and directors,” District 86 Superintendent Theresa Rouse said in the release. “The audience was in awe to learn that our students were only 11, 12 and 13 years old.”

The mariachi ensemble is directed by Gompers Junior High School band director Christine Adelmann and orchestra director Rachael Tatar.

The conference is one of the nation’s largest state education events for Illinois school board members, administrators and business officials. About 9,000 people throughout Illinois attended the event, according to the release.