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Music played from the heart

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Christine Carrillo

Rosa Torres Soto of Santa Ana sat patiently for 15 minutes in the

middle of the shaded bleachers of the Grandstand Arena waiting to

hear the live mariachi music and see the beautiful folklorico dancers

performing as part of the Orange County Fair’s MariachiFest.

The 63-year-old woman attended the fair for the first time Sunday,

wanting to spend some quality time with her family.

And selfishly, she admits, wanting to hear some ‘’good music.’’

‘’I’m tired of my granddaughters and grandsons listening to music

without any heart,’’ she said. ‘’I was brought up on [mariachi

music]. It’s part of who I am and I want them to know it, too.’’

With shouts from the stands at the beginning of almost every song,

the predominately Latino audience sang along to their favorites and

even danced in the aisles to some of the more familiar tunes.

‘’I’ve always loved to dance folklorico,’’ said Ysabela Guerrero,

14, of Riverside, who attended the fair with a group of family and

friends. ‘’I’m not good enough to dance on stage, but I can dance

here.’’

Folklorico dancers at this year’s fair varied in age just as did

the mariachi musicians. And, in both cases, the younger performers

stole the show.

‘’I love the little kids,’’ Soto said. ‘’It’s good to see them

carrying on the tradition.’’

Seeing the tradition being passed from one generation to another

through mariachi music has proven to Raymundo M. Orozco, a trumpeter

and leader of the nine-piece group Mariachi Perla Tapatia, that

mariachi music will never go out of style.

And for Orozco, it’s been a love he’s managed to live out.

‘’It was basically a hobby and then it became a profession,’’ he

said. ‘’I love the music and the performing.’’

Being in front of an enthusiastic audience keeps many of the

performers motivated to give it their all.

‘’I like being in front of a lot of people,’’ said 11-year-old

Julian Gonzales, a dancer for Dance Academy Ballet Folklorico de

Carolina of West Covina and a violinist for Mariachi Heritage. ‘’And

I like the different places that we go.’’

A few of the benefits for audience members are waking up memories

through the traditional music and dance.

‘’I don’t get to go out and hear concerts much,’’ Soto said.

‘’It’s nice being here and feeling at home even though the seats

aren’t very comfortable.’’

* Christine Carrillo is the news assistant. She may be reached at

(949) 574-4298 or by e-mail at christine.carrillo@latimes.com.

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