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Artist Series brings student together with her idol

Junior Julieta García performs on stage during Mexican singer Lila Downs’ Artist Series concert.

Junior Julieta Garc穩a performs on stage during Mexican singer Lila Downs Artist Series concert.

When Julieta Garc穩a arrived at Macky Auditorium one Saturday afternoon last month, she only had a vague idea of what to expect. It wasnt until the junior from Jacona, Michoac獺n in Mexico, saw the stage that reality sunk in.

I didnt know what to expect, she says. I had never been in a show like that before. When I saw the stage and musicians set up for the soundcheck, I thought, What did I get myself into?

That night, March 3, Mexican artist Lila Downs would be performing to a sold-out audience in her signature cantina-classical style. And for one songa traditional 梯喝娶矇梯梗釵堯硃 tune from her home regionGarc穩a would be up there with her.泭

Ive been a fan for as long as I can remember. Shes such an idol to me, Garc穩a says.

Indeed, her admiration of Downswho has made a career of melding traditional and popular music from Mexicostarted when Garc穩a was a music conservatory student. Downs visited the Conservatorio de las Rosas in Morelia, Mexico, and presented a master class.

Shes such an avid fighter for the rights of indigenous people, Garc穩a says. Shes one of the people who has brought to the world what being Mexican really is. And shes done it through music, which is such a wonderful thing.

Garc穩as background in music can be traced back to the traditions of her 梯喝娶矇梯梗釵堯硃 grandfather. As a professor and native speaker of the 梯喝娶矇梯梗釵堯硃 language, he brought culture into Garc穩as home environment, also instilling in her a love of music from an early age.

I loved music because of my grandfather, she says. We grew up with him, always with a book around, always listening to music. He would turn on the TV and watch ballets and orchestra concerts.

Thats why I have a passion for music, why I sang in different choirs and in church, and why singing grew into a profession for me.

A young Julieta García and her grandfather watch an orchestra performance on television in her hometown of Jacona, Mexico.

A young Julieta Garc穩a and her grandfather watch an orchestra performance on television in her hometown of Jacona, Mexico.

Those traditions were with Garc穩a the night of her performance with Downs. She wore an authentic 梯喝娶矇梯梗釵堯硃 dress that was made for the occasion by a woman she met in the small town of Nurio.

I saw her in the street when I was home over winter break and asked here where I could by a 梯喝娶矇梯梗釵堯硃 dress, Garc穩a explains. She told me she could make me one. She turned out to be an award-winning dressmaker. Lila complimented the dress at the concert.

The dress, Downs presence on stage and the crowd made the night one Garc穩a wont soon forget. It was just a marvelous experience. Ive never felt so proud and so free, she says. As soon as I stepped out on stage, I saw people whom Id never met shouting my name. And they were mostly Chicanos or immigrants from Mexico, and I hope I gave that feeling of openness and warmness back to them through my singing.

Professor of Ethnomusicology Brenda Romero helped orchestrate the meeting when she heard Downs was coming to Boulder for CU Presents Artist Series. She had interviewed Downs in the past and took several students to the concert last month to see her perform.

According to Romero, its opportunities like these that make the Artist Series invaluable for CU students. People like Lila are a tremendous inspiration for students, she says The fact that Julieta could be on stage with her and have a chance to introduce herself to that audienceshe was so excited and happy.

Romero will perform the same 梯喝娶矇梯梗釵堯硃 song with Garc穩a at the Latin American Ensemble Concert on April 22.泭

Season tickets are now on sale for the 2018-19 Artist Series, which welcomes show-stopping musical acts Dee Dee Bridgewater, Sarah Chang and many more world-class acts to Macky Auditorium next year. For information, visit .