Aspen Music Festival and School’s Mariachi Workshop and Celebration Announces Expanded Initiatives

Aspen, CO — In 2025, the Aspen Music Festival and School’s (AMFS) Mariachi Workshop and Celebration enters its fourth year with an expanded initiative and accompanying theme—Con Alma (“with soul”). The program aims to increase access to mariachi music education for students in the Roaring Fork Valley and across Colorado.

Since its beginnings in 2022, the Mariachi Workshop and Celebration has grown into one of the Festival’s most anticipated community offerings. From June 30 to July 2, more than 100 students from Aspen to Grand Junction will gather at Basalt High School for a free Mariachi Workshop with professional mentors from across Colorado and local music educators. The workshop, led by director Michael Linert, is open to students in grades 5–12, statewide educators, and adult learners.

The program culminates on Wednesday, July 2 with its marquee public event: a free, family-friendly celebration on the AMFS Meadows Campus in Aspen’s West End, featuring:

     - A side-by-side, student and mentor performance by workshop participants in the Klein Music Tent
     - Stunning performances by Denver-based professional Mariachi Sol de mi Tierra and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Folklórico, directed by Francisco Nevarez-Burgueño 
     - An outdoor Fiesta from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, with food vendors, family-friendly activities, lawn seating, and more than a dozen community partners. 

Guests of all ages are encouraged to bring a blanket, eat, dance, and enjoy a vibrant celebration of mariachi music and Mexican culture.

A key supporter since 2023, Querencia Private Golf & Beach Club in Los Cabos, Mexico, has championed the program’s growth from a seasonal offering into a flagship initiative of AMFS’s education and community programs. Their continued commitment has helped AMFS expand the program's vision while remaining student-focused and community-driven.

“Partnering with the AMFS is a natural collaboration,” said Tom McCloskey, Querencia Chairman. “The spirit of giving is foundational to both the Aspen and Cabo communities, my wife Bonnie and I, our family, and Querencia. We are all proud to be a part of it.”

For more information on the AMFS x Querencia partnership, visit qcabo.com/aspen.

The expanded 2025 initiative is three-fold: a new pre-workshop training for music educators, a formalized Youth Leadership Council that uplifts the voices of local youth as artistic citizens, and deepened organizational partnerships.

The Mariachi Development Training on Sunday, June 29, will provide music educators and local musicians with tools to successfully incorporate mariachi into their teaching. This pre-workshop event addresses an unmet need often expressed by educators and administrators statewide. The day-long session is free and led by Michael Linert and professional mariachi mentors.

The new Youth Leadership Council provides local students in AMFS education and community programs the opportunity to mentor younger peers, shape future program initiatives, and represent the AMFS at community events year-round. Stemming from the students of the AMFS's after-school ensemble, El Proyecto de Mariachi, which meets at Riverview School in Glenwood Springs, members of the Council will perform at the Mariachi Celebration on July 2 and at the Raizado Festival from August 21-24.

“Throughout the school year, our teaching team of 25 local musicians and music educators sees nearly 500 Roaring Fork Valley students in after-school music classes through our AfterWorks programs. We are so proud of the year-round ensemble El Proyecto de Mariachi and the new Youth Leadership Council, who will represent themselves as young musicians and emerging leaders in our community,” said Heather Kendrick Stanton, Vice President for Education and Community at AMFS.

In further collaboration with the Raizado Festival, the AMFS along with partner organizations Aspen Film and Justice for Migrant Women, will present a community screening of the award-winning documentary Going Varsity in Mariachi, on Monday, June 30 at the Isis Theatre. It will include a private welcome reception at the Peter Lik Gallery and a public community screening and talkback featuring the film’s producer, Luis Miranda, film protagonist, Abigail Garcia, and directors Sam Osborn and Alejandro Vazquez. Moderator Soledad Hurst will facilitate a talkback about the film, exploring how mariachi builds identity, musical excellence, and intergenerational connection.

“We are proud to partner with the AMFS and Aspen Film,” said Justice for Migrant Women’s President Mónica Ramírez. “We deeply value the role that the Mariachi Workshop and other AMFS programs play in supporting these students’ development and well-being. One of our primary goals for Raizado Festival is to unite the worlds of advocacy and culture by celebrating and supporting inspiring leaders and their contributions to society. Additionally, having the opportunity to invite our friend Luis Miranda, as well as the film’s directors and one of the incredible musicians featured, to screen “Going Varsity in Mariachi” was an easy decision to make. By highlighting outstanding filmmakers and films, we continue to amplify the stories of our community that deeply resonate with people in Aspen and beyond.”

The 2025 Mariachi Workshop and Celebration is presented in partnership with Querencia and supported by the Equity in Arts Learning for Colorado Youth Grant, Creative West, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Pitkin County Dry Goods.

Community partners include Aspen Film, Raizado Festival, Justice for Migrant Women, Aspen Art Museum, Aspen Valley Land Trust, The Buddy Program, Basalt Regional Library, Colorado Youth Mariachi Program, English in Action, Pitkin County Library, Taqueria el Yaqui, Senor Mango, Sundae Ice Cream, KidToons, and El Bajon Churros.

These initiatives are part of AMFS’s long-term commitment to supplementing high-quality music education across the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond. Over the next five years, AMFS will scale programming across age levels, invest in professional development for local musicians and teaching artists, and strengthen partnerships in support of music education for valley students and families.

“We aim to fulfill our mission and history of being a learning institution for musical excellence—not only in the summer—but in our valley and year-round. Our intention is to supplement the work of incredible music educators and local musicians and to develop programming that responds to the evolving needs of our students, families, and communities," said Stanton.

Program At-a-Glance  

- June 29 – Mariachi Development Training for music educators, high school juniors/seniors, university/college students, administrators, and adult participants
- June 30 – Workshop Day 1 and Film Screening/Talkback at Aspen's Isis Theatre (Free, registration required) 
- July 1 – Workshop Day 2
- July 2 – Workshop Day 3 and Celebration (Free event!)
- August 21-24 – AMFS Youth Performance at Raizado Festival

Registration for the free Mariachi Workshop (student and adult participation) is open through June 10. The June 30 film screening and talkback event is free with registration. The July 2 Mariachi Celebration Fiesta is free and open to the public with no registration needed. For more information, visit aspenmusicfestival.com/mariachi.

To learn more about supporting AMFS Education and Community programs, contact VP for Advancement, Austin Stewart, at astewart@aspenmusic.org.

About Querencia

Querencia is a private, multigenerational, and luxury community located just 15 minutes from the Los Cabos International Airport. Spanning more than 2,000 acres, Querencia is home to those seeking a respite for the mind, body, and spirit within a vibrant, connected community that fosters connection and legacy. With the mountains, ocean, and desert as our backdrop, Querencia offers programming and activities for the entire family. From our signature, award-winning Tom Fazio golf course (with a second currently under construction) to the heart of our community—our 70,000 sq. ft. Clubhouse, featuring thirteen dining venues, pools, sports courts, and family activities—and our oceanfront Beach Club located on the best surf break in San José, families come here to reconnect and recharge. Coming soon is the Canyon Club, a family-centric springboard to adventure for Members of all ages. https://qcabo.com/aspen

Qcabo.com | Golf | Clubhouse | Beach Club | Canyon Club | Real Estate

About Raizado Festival

Founded by Mónica Ramírez in 2020 and launched in 2022, Raizado Festival is a project of Justice for Migrant Women. It was conceived in response to the erasure and undervaluing of Latine lives, especially in times of crisis. Raizado Festival is a celebration of power, culture, and truth. It brings together changemakers, innovators, leaders, and allies from across the United States and beyond during a four-day festival held in Aspen, Colorado, in August. https://raizadofest.org

About Justice for Migrant Women

Justice for Migrant Women is a national non-profit organization that amplifies the power of rural and migrant women through education, advocacy, public awareness, and narrative change work. Founded by Monica Ramirez, the organization’s mission is to champion migrant and rural women’s right to live and work with dignity and without fear of sexual violence. Justice for Migrant Women helped to support Going Varsity in Mariachi’s premiere at the Sundance Film Festival through its now-sunsetted initiative The Latinx House. The film won the Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award at the Sundance Film Festival for the U.S. Documentary Competition. https://justice4women.org

About Aspen Music Festival and School

Founded in 1949, the Aspen Music Festival and School is a beacon for classical music lovers and aspiring musicians alike. Nestled in the stunning Rocky Mountains, AMFS offers a unique blend of world-class performances, artist residencies, and educational opportunities. Each summer, it draws more than 450 students and 120 artist-faculty members from around the globe, presenting 300+ events ranging from orchestral concerts and intimate chamber music recitals to family programs in local libraries.

Beyond the summer, AMFS serves more than 2,000 students annually across the Roaring Fork Valley through year-round Education and Community initiatives. These programs range from weekly after-school music classes to free summer concerts and more, with offerings for infants through adults. Local youth and families can develop a love for music, a passion for performance, and countless lifelong skills gained from studying the arts.

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