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The Consulate General of Mexico is presenting a series of events in Las Cruces to showcase Mexican Culture. This weekend will be the first of free monthly performances that will bring the Mexican Culture to Las Cruces. Jacob Prado, Consulate General of Mexico says there has been a lot of interest in the event.
“We started our cultural program in collaboration with the city of Las Cruces last year,” Prado said. “And the response has been amazing. We brought a quartet, which is probably the best quartet that Mexico has right now, and the theater was completely packed. So, we are very happy with the response of the people here in Las Cruces.”
Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima says there is a lot of people want to see events like this in the city.
“We have a lot of residents that are either from Mexico, have relatives that live in Mexico, or just like the Mexican culture,” Miyagishima said. “And I think this lends itself to enhancing that relationship. It’s very important that we have that relationship with Mexico; as for those residents that do want to interact with the Consulate General of Mexico I think it’s very important. So, this just lends itself on so many different factors, from a cultural standpoint, from a business standpoint.”
Prado says that you can learn a lot about Mexico through these cultural performances.
“Mexico is a country with more than 3,000 years of history,” Prado said. “More than 3,000 years of culture, and we are at the same time at the forefront of many artistic movements, in the dance, in the music, in literature. So, we are hoping that by bringing these groups, these performers we are conveying a message that Mexico is not only the news that we can sometimes here, or see on TV. But, we have this background, this huge history that supports our people.”
Mayor Miyagishima says these events bring more than just culture to Las Cruces.
“The Consulate General Prado has done a fantastic job since he’s come here in the last couple years,” Miyagishima said. “And we work well with him, and we’d like to see it continue. We think that this is a great thing, not only for just the residents, but it brings economic development to the city here as well.”
The first performance is by the Esperanza Azteca Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and Prado says it is something you don’t want to miss.
“It is a group that was formed in 2010,” Prado said. “Their members, the musicians, the performers are kids from 5-17 years of age, and they are going to be performing of course classic music, but also some other Latin American music. It is going to be fun.”
The concert will be held tomorrow at Onate High School Auditorium at 3pm. Tickets are free and will be first come, first serve.
