18 students have reached «mero arriba»
Chavo Luna in front of his house, «The future of music is uncertain, from being dead during the pandemic now the movement is reborn».
Jazmín Stengel – Salvador de Luna Castellanos, better known as Chavo Luna, began his career at the age of eight in 1956. His interest began the day he followed the musicians he saw pass by the main avenue of his town, Chapala, dressed in suits with instruments in hand.
The pursuit of that day led the boy to the Academy of the parish of San Francisco de Asís where the community band, «Niños Héroes,» founded by the priest Raúl Navarro was rehearsing. «That’s where I began to study,» said Chavo.
Chavo found a harmony that would accompany him throughout his life. Being mostly self-taught, he sought to learn from friends and colleagues who studied at the Conservatory, such as Humberto Rivera who accompanied him for two years, helping him to complement his musical training.
The quality of his music and the few opportunities to practice his profession in Chapala during his youth, led him in the 70’s to make the leap directly to the tapatías groups. The Youth Orchestra of Guadalajara was the first to open its doors to him. After that, Chavo was part of the orchestras directed by Nano González and Enrique Reyes, both famous musicians from Jalisco.
Luna told us about one of the best moments he experienced on stage. «The first day you play a solo well the people look at you and you can hear the applause,» he said with a hidden smile and eyes lit up with nostalgia as if he were reliving that moment from the warmth of his living room.
After that day his career took off. He was a member of the Arturo Xavier Gonzalez Santana Orchestra when it split in 1981, «the best ones formed their own group and those of us who were not so good stayed,» Chavo recalled.
Shortly thereafter, the Jalisco State Symphony Orchestra called him to its elite ensemble of musicians in the city where he remained for three years. «At first I hesitated, but I wanted to fit in with the greats and I realized I had the quality,» he said with a blush.
After a fifteen-year absence, «One day my sister told me that her three children wanted to learn music. I proposed to invite seven more of their friends to form a band.» Since 1983, Luna has gathered young people in the main square of the Chapala every Sunday to form the new band of Chapala.
At that time, the now 73-year-old maestro made a crucial life decision. “Since we musicians sacrifice time and effort, I dedicated mine to develop music among the young people of the town,» said Chavo not regretting leaving the big leagues to continue his legacy with music classes for clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone and all the wind instruments he masters.
The effort over 28 years has never been in vain, and even if the pay is a simple plate of pozole with a couple of tostadas, the students have always made their work worthwhile. There are 18 students who have made it to the «mero arriba,» seven are now professionals and play with celebrities such as Alejandro «El Potrillo» Fernández, La Banda San Miguel, Banda Caramelo or La Pequeño Musical.
Chavo Luna may not have achieved worldwide fame like other musicians who pursued a public image, but the persistence and dedication he has shown throughout his 52-year career, his dedication to non-profit teaching, lead him to be recognized by his people with an outdoor tribute in the main square of the Chapala capital on November 21 at 8:00 p.m., where the Chavo Luna Wind Band, directed by Chavo Luna himself, will also perform.
Musicians in Chapala are scattered, but not absent. After a year of pandemic without festivities or music, the guild of mariacheros will meet again on Monday, November 22 at the Parish of San Francisco de Asís at 7:30 a.m. to celebrate a mass in honor of Santa Cecilia, Patron Saint of all musicians.
At the end of the mass, the groups will go to the little chapel of Santa Cecilia, on Chapala’s malecon in front of La Rampa restaurant, where the mariachis gather to sing the mañanitas to the patron saint, as they do every year.
The musicians from San Antonio Tlayacapan will organize a symbolic festival to celebrate their day, bringing together bands such as Astro Norteño, La Banda Caramelo, Banda Colegiala, Mórbida, La GS Band and Polo con su guitarra, combining musical genres for all tastes.
Also, in the parish of San Antonio de Padua, a mass in honor of St. Cecilia will be held at 7:00 a.m. and at the end, the mañanitas will be in the atrium of the same parish.
Translated by Sydney Metrick.
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