Celebración Latina

In four short years, CSN’s Mariachi Plata has earned a place as the finest Collegiate Mariachi in the United States. Mariachi Plata is comprised of students from CSN’s mariachi courses, part of its fine arts music curriculum. Founding Directors Fernando and Lupe Gonzalez have led this group of 17 highly accomplished student musicians to the very top of the mariachi world, winning the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza Competition for the last two years in a row. This competition, held in San Antonio, Texas is widely acknowledged as the national championship of collegiate mariachi. CSN’s “Plata” is the first band from outside of Texas to win this prestigious title in the 28-year history of the competition.

This year, under the direction of nationally renowned Mariachi vocalist and guitarrón artist Perry Chacón, Jr., Mariachi Plata continues to be one of the points of pride of the College of Southern Nevada. They are an outstanding example of how we, at CSN, continue to empower our students and communities to achieve, succeed and prosper.

University of Arizona alumni, Mexican-American baritone Octavio Moreno participated in the artist program at the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) in Philadelphia and the Houston Grand Opera Studio. His previous engagements include the roles of John Proctor in “The crucible,” Figaro in “The barber of Seville,” Zurga in “The pearl fishers,” Don Alfonso in “Cosi fan tutte”,” Xihuitl in “Pasado Nunca Se Termina,” Laurentino in “Cruzar la cara de la luna,” Germont in “La Traviata,” Malatesta in “Don Pasquale,” Enrico in “Lucia di Lammermoor” the title role of “Rigoletto,” Belcore in “The Elixir of Love,” Tonio in “Pagliacci.” Mr. Moreno has sung with companies such as, Chicago Lyric Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Theatre Chatelet (Paris), Bellas Artes (Mexico City), Arizona Opera, New York City Opera, Ecuador Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Opera in the Heights, among others. Future engagements include Carmina Burana with Tucson symphony, and General Moncada in Zorro with Arizona opera 2024-25 season.

Celebrated soprano, Cecilia Violetta López, has been named one of “Idaho’s Top 10 Most Influential Women of the Century” by USA Today and has been named one of opera’s “25 Rising Stars” by Opera News. The singing actress is constantly praised for her “alluring voice and incredible range” (Washington Post).

She has received accolades for her signature role of Violetta in La traviata, which she has performed countless times throughout North America. Critic, James Jorden, exclaimed “she is a Violetta fully- formed and, I think, ready for the great stages of the world.” She has now performed the role with Minnesota Opera, Opera Colorado, Opera Tampa, Opera Idaho, Ash Lawn Opera, The Northern Lights Music Festival, Madison Opera, Pacific Symphony and Virginia Opera. Ms. López made her European début as Norina in Don Pasquale with Zomeropera in Belgium, for which Klassiek Centraal exclaimed: “She turns out to be the revelation of the show and wins over the audience with her funny rendition, irresistible charm, and [she is] natural in the different vocals.”

From her performance as Adina in The Elixir of Love with Virginia Opera, The Virginian- Pilot hailed, “Cecilia Violetta López is showing local audiences why Opera News named her one of its ’25 Rising Stars.’ In the lead role of Adina, she hit the highest notes with ringing clarity, performed the vocal runs with precision and grace and showed a particular charm and humanity in the softest passages and lowest ranges.” In her recent performance as Marguerite in Faust with Opera Omaha, the Omaha World-Herald claimed “...López sang Marguerite’s seduction, madness and salvation with an other wordly wisdom and artistry.”

Despite the halting effects of COVID-19 in the opera industry, Ms. López’ 2020-2021 has included both virtual and live recitals with Opera Idaho, Opera Las Vegas, Austin Opera, Opera Southwest, Chatter ABQ, and Madison Opera. Ms. López made her company debut with Pacific Symphony as Violetta in their 90 minute version of La traviata, and Ms. López will also be the featured soprano soloist in the world premier of Mi Camino, a virtual project with Opera Cultura. Cecilia will also return to Opera Colorado as a soprano soloist in Canciones de Nuestras Tierras: a live, outdoor performance.

Perry Chacón Jr. is a doctoral candidate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas under the tutelage of Dr. Alfonse Anderson. He holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Opera and Music Theatre performance from Arizona State University, where he studied with renowned operatic baritone Gordon Hawkins. Chacón began his musical studies as a guitarrón player and lead vocalist with the high school ensemble Mariachi Chula Vista in California. With Mariachi Chula Vista, he performed at the Tucson International Mariachi conference, Albuquerque Espectacular, the Encuéntro Nacional del Mariachi y la Charreria in Guadalajara, and the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival in Washington D.C. Chacón continued his musical studies with Mariachi educator and composer Dr. Jeff Nevin and is currently a guitarist and lead vocalist for Mariachi Champaña Nevin. As part of this ensemble, Chacón has performed with the San Diego Symphony, Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, Idaho Falls Symphony Orchestra, Yakima Symphony ,York Symphony Orchestra, and Santa Rosa Symphony among others. Chacon is currently one of the directors at one of the nation’s top Middle School Mariachi programs, Mariachi Los Gavilanes de Monaco Middle School and the director three-time college national champion Mariachi Plata from the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas.