10th Annual Mariachi Encuentro Fundraiser

Cultural celebration will feature premiere ensemble Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuellar, all-female group Grupo Bella, Patricia Martin, and Ballet Folklorico de Los Angeles

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria will celebrate Cinco de Mayo with its 10th annual Mariachi Encuentro event, an evening filled with authentic Mexican food, music, and culture on Saturday, May 5h at the Girls Inc. of Carpinteria campus, 5315 Foothill Road.

Guests will enjoy dinner and live entertainment, featuring Los Angeles-based Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuellar, a premiere mariachi ensemble; Grupo Bella, an all-female group that will serenade guests during dinner; artist Patricia Martin; and Ballet Folklorico de Los Angeles.

This year’s event co-chairs are John Cerda and Theresa Huerta.                              

“Each year, Mariachi Encuentro brings together an incredible group of community members for an evening of dancing, award-winning music and delicious Mexican food,” said John Cerda, who also serves on Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s Board of Trustees. “We are proud to mark ten years of bringing this cultural event to the community and look forward to celebrating on Cinco de Mayo while raising funds for Girls Inc.’s mission to cultivate strong, confident and self-sufficient girls.”

Tickets to the event are $45 for bleacher seating and $65 for reserved seating and include dinner. Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold at the door. All proceeds will benefit Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s programs.

Founded in 1994 by Jamie Cuellar, Mariachi Garibaldi began as a privately run community youth group. The ensemble quickly gained popularity as one of the first youth mariachis to arise in Bakersfield, CA. Over the years, Mariachi Garibaldi has evolved into a premier mariachi band in California directed by Jimmy “El Pollo” Cuellar, a composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist with three Grammy award nominations and three Grammy award wins. The group has shared the stage with many mariachi ensembles and well-known artists such as Latin Grammy award-winning artist Alejandro Fernandez and the late, Latin American music legend Juan Gabriel.

Grupo Bella, an all-female musical group, uses mariachi instrumentation to perform different styles of music. Offering everything from traditional mariachi to salsa, the women who make up Grupo Bella have also worked on Grammy-winning or nominated albums. Their unique style and traditional apparel adds a modern twist to the mariachi music and sound of this Los Angeles based group.

Patricia Martin has been performing with mariachi groups since the age of 13. Among her accomplishments include recording two albums with Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, recording two solo albums, and solo performances opening for artists such as the Icon of Mexican Ranchera Music and Vicente Fernandez. She has also dedicated nearly 20 years to working with children with mental and physical disabilities.

Ballet Folklorico de Los Angeles was founded in 2011 by Kareli Montoya and has already distinguished itself as the nation’s premier Mexican folk dance company by not only performing in world-class venues, but also by working with Grammy award-winning artists such as Lila Downs and Pepe Aguilar.

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria invites all community members to celebrate Cinco de Mayo at this year’s Mariachi Encuentro. Doors open at 4:45 p.m. and dinner will be served at 5:15 p.m.

For more information about Mariachi Encuentro or to purchase tickets, please call (805) 684-6364 or visit www.girlsinc-carp.org.