Photos: Opera lead visits Davis Bilingual Elementary School
On Thursday, Dec. 9, nearly 60 music students from Davis Bilingual Elementary School’s performing mariachi group, “Las Aguilitas de Davis,” enjoyed a special guest presentation and performance by Tucson resident and seasoned opera musician, Octavio Moreno. Octavio plays the lead role of “Laurentino” in Arizona Opera’s upcoming mariachi opera, El Milagro del Recuerdo (The Miracle of Remembering). Octavio shared advice, his personal story as an opera artist and musician, as well as his connection to mariachi music with the students, who are budding mariachi performers! He also spoke about his role in El Milagro del Recuerdo, performed live music for the students (made up of first through fifth graders), and invited them to join him in sharing their own story and love for music!
El Milagro del Recuerdo is a one-act mariachi opera set during Christmas time, with a moving story about a family divided across the United States and Mexico border, sung in Spanish, which will be performed Dec. 3, 4, 5 at the Herberger Theatre Center in Phoenix and Dec. 11 and 12 at the Temple of Music and Art in Tucson. The opera explores Christmas traditions in Mexico and opens itself to conversations around family dynamics and values, as well as discussions around immigration, the immigrant workforce and what it means to be a family when life threatens to pull them apart. El Milagro del Recuerdo marks Arizona Opera’s first live, in-theatre performances since March 2020.
Opera lead visits school
Octavio Moreno, visits Davis Bilingual Elementary School on December 9, 2021. Octavio plays the lead role of “Laurentino” in Arizona Opera’s upcoming mariachi opera, El Milagro del Recuerdo (The Miracle of Remembering).
Opera lead visits school
Octavio Moreno, answering questions before his performance at Davis Bilingual Elementary School on December 9, 2021.
Opera lead visits school
Octavio Moreno, visits Davis Bilingual Elementary School on December 9, 2021. He gave a glimpse of his story about how he first wanted to be a soccer player, but after event in his life he discovered what he wanted to be, in high school he wanted to be a poet, shortly after, he heard Javier Solís and wanted to be just like him.
Opera lead visits school
Octavio Moreno, performing at Davis Bilingual Elementary School on December 9, 2021.
Opera lead visits school
Octavio Moreno, explaining that "the lack of fame doesn't mean there is a lack of work on your behalf. There's lots of jobs being a musician, the money or social media way of living isn't the only way to determine that you made it as a musician. You can make it without being in papers, magazines, and YouTube. You can be a local musician and that alone can pay the bills. Just like any job, if you want it and work towards it, you can achieve it, don't let people tell you that this career can't work for you. If you like your work, it will never feel like work." Davis Bilingual Elementary School; December 9, 2021.
Opera lead visits school
Octavio Moreno, visits Davis Bilingual Elementary School on December 9, 2021. Octavio says his parents were supportive of his decision to be a musician after high school, he explains there was only one condition, that he would dedicate himself to being the best that he could be.
Opera lead visits school
Octavio Moreno share his personal story as an opera artist and musician with 4th and 5th graders at Davis Bilingual Elementary School on December 9, 2021.
Opera lead visits school
Candice Leon Flores telling Octavio Moreno she mostly watches and listens to music on YouTube. Tucson resident and seasoned opera musician, Octavio Moreno, visited Davis Bilingual Elementary School on December 9, 2021.
Opera lead visits school
Zephram Wenger raising his hand to share his story during Octavio Moreno's visit to Davis Bilingual Elementary School on December 9, 2021.
Opera lead visits school
Octavio Moreno, telling his story of how he discovered he wanted to be an opera singer and musician during his visit to Davis Bilingual Elementary School on December 9, 2021.
Opera lead visits school
Octavio Moreno, playing the guitar during his visit to Davis Bilingual Elementary School on December 9, 2021. Octavio plays the lead role of “Laurentino” in Arizona Opera’s upcoming mariachi opera, El Milagro del Recuerdo (The Miracle of Remembering).
Opera lead visits school
Octavio Moreno, asking students "who wants to be a musician when they grow up," during his visit to Davis Bilingual Elementary School on December 9, 2021.
Opera lead visits school
Octavio Moreno asks students to raise their hand to share how they got started in music, during his visit to Davis Bilingual Elementary School on December 9, 2021.
Opera lead visits school
Davis Bilingual Elementary School students watching Octavio Moreno, perform in their cafeteria on December 9, 2021.