Our mission is to maintain and show the people what our culture has contributed to the music industry. The students when they go onstage to perform, they basically tell a story.
BROWNSVILLE — They’re locked and loaded.
The conjunto students at La Joya-Palmview High School have spent long hours preparing for the Texas Best Conjunto Competition this Saturday at Jacob Brown Auditorium, and Instructor Javier Loya says his players are “ready to go.”
“They want to see what other schools have,” said Loya, who will bring 23 players to the event where they will compete against 10 other schools from around the Valley.
“I have three groups going, beginner, junior varsity and varsity,” Loya said. “We’re playing polkas, boleros, cumbias. This event is very important especially for the kids, something they will not forget.”
The contest is being hosted by La Cultura Vive en Brownsville, a non-profit organization.
It will begin at noon and is free to the public.
This competition plays a crucial role in the promotion and continuation of this important part of Tejano culture, said Carlo Hernandez, director of the event.
“Our mission is to maintain and show the people what our culture has contributed to the music industry,” Hernandez said. “The students when they go onstage to perform, they basically tell a story.”
Conjunto has a long history of development going back to the early 20 century.
Tejano musicians first took up the accordion and performed at regional social events. Soon drums, the bajo sexto, and other instruments came into use. Over the proceeding decades it became a vital part of Tejano culture.
Some years ago, however, musicians became concerned that fewer musicians were taking up the genre and feared it might not survive for too many generations. Thus began a drive to involve local youth, and soon conjunto programs began popping up in school districts throughout the Valley.
Many of those young conjunto musicians have pursuit the music not only to preserve it but to express a genuine love for the music itself.
When Los Fresnos High School’s Conjunto Halcon performs Saturday at the competition, Iliana Aguilar will sing and play bass, enjoying a music she has loved from a very young age.
“My dad and grandpa are both musicians,” said Iliana, 18, a senior.
“I saw them perform at gigs. And it really inspired me, and it kept me going,” she said. “I think it’s very moveable…and then we’re playing people move around and dance.”
Conjunto Salvaje at Weslaco East High School has worked hard these past few months, said Instructor Enrique Buenrostro.
“We have been working on the music. We have two sets with a 10-minute limit,” he said. “These students have been working together to practice.”
He thanked Carlo Hernandez for doing so much to keep conjunto alive.
“Most school districts don’t have a conjunto program because it isn’t a UIL event,” he said. “Carlo Hernandez has done a great job of promoting it.”
He pointed out that mariachi has only been a UIL event for about 15 years. He hoped with more visibility, UIL will soon recognize conjunto’s importance and acknowledge it as a UIL event.
The competing musicians show a promising future for this genre.
Roosebel Sanchez, 17, will play bajo sexto and sing with La Joya-Palmview High School at Saturday’s competition.
“We are ready,” he said. “We are working hard. Everybody here is enjoying it.”
Fellow La Joya-Palmview High School player Jathsyn Tamayo, 17, looked forward to singing lead vocals.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “We’re taking our time to get everything right, and we’re looking forward to bringing back first place.”
