The Ebell’s second student matinee commission, Versos y Besos, created in collaboration with Grammy-winning Suzanne Garcia and her renowned mariachi ensemble Las Colibrí, celebrates 19th-century educator Manuela C. García and her efforts to preserve Mexican music in California. With the script and music in progress, Versos y Besos will premiere in April 2025, performed by Las Colibrí. Known for uplifting women’s stories, Las Colibrí recently showcased an early version of this piece at the Autry Museum. Garcia, a seasoned leader in all-female mariachi, also founded Las Jovencitas, the first mariachi academy for young women.

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