Aida Cuevas: 45th Anniversary
Yo Creo Que Es Tiempo
Friday, September 30, 2022 at 8pm

Artist Sponsor
Toni and Terry McDonald

Accompanied by Mariachi Aztlán

This performance is presented without an intermission.

Aida Cuevas has created one of the most important careers in traditional Mexican music. With a 46-year career and 41 album releases to her credit, Cuevas, dubbed “The Queen of Mariachi,” is an esteemed figure in Mexico, beloved for her unswerving devotion to traditional mariachi music and for her mastery of its demanding vocal forms. Cuevas celebrates a long-lasting career with a Grammy Award, a Latin Grammy Award and eleven Grammy nominations in the Best Mariachi/Ranchero Album category.

Cuevas became the first female singer in the mariachi genre to win a Grammy when she was honored at the 2018 awards for Best Regional Mexican Music Album for her recording studio album Arrieros Somos (Versiones Acústicas). The album is a collection of acoustic versions of Mexican classics by renowned composer Cuco Sánchez. She previously won a Latin Grammy for “Best Tango Album” for her 2010 release De Corazón a Corazón…Mariachi Tango.

Cuevas’ latest release Antología de la Música Ranchera, Vol. I and Vol. 2, are two recording studio albums which were produced during the pandemic and both albums reached nominations for the Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards 2020 and 2021.

Cuevas is a master of the mariachi art song performing a full range of mariachi numbers, including the falsetto heavyweight "El Pastor," the iconic hits "Te Doy las Gracias" and "Quizás Mañana," as well as new songs from Totalmente Juan Gabriel Vol. II, including "Gracias por Todo" and "Buscando el Séptimo Amor." Cuevas also performs many ranchero classics such as "Traición a Juan," "Toro Relajo," "Los Laureles," and "No Me Amenaces." 

Now Aida Cuevas has returned with a new show and a new tour celebrating her 45^th anniversary with special guests. Her unique voice and style have allowed her to cultivate a 46-year successful career, leaving a remarkable imprint in the history of Mexican music.

Under the direction of Dr. Dahlia Guerra and Mr. Francisco Loera, Mariachi Aztlán has been captivating audiences throughout Mexico, Canada, and the United States since its establishment in 1989. They travel as musical ambassadors representing the beauty of Hispanic music and its cultural traditions.

Its growing reputation for performance excellence initiated the 2010 invitation from the White House to perform for President Obama at a signing ceremony of an executive order renewing and enhancing the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.

In December 2010, in collaboration with the Houston Grand Opera, Mariachi Aztlán premiered the stage production of Cruzar la Cara de la Luna, the world’s first mariachi opera in December 2010. A second performance of the same production took place in 2013 with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Mariachi Aztlán also premiered the mariachi opera El Pasado Nunca se Termina with the Chicago Lyric Opera in 2015. Other national performances include appearances as guest artists at the Tuscan International Mariachi Conference, the San Diego International Mariachi Festival, and Chicago Mariachi festivals. Mariachi Aztlán has served as guest clinicians at the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza and the Mariachi Spectacular. Since 2019, Mariachi Aztlán has performed with La Reina Del Mariachi. Aida Cuevas has invited Mariachi Aztlán for her U.S. Tour 2022, including appearances at more than 30 shows in North America.

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James Mai
Sherry L. K. Main
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Stuart Winston
Anu Worah

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