‘Corridos del San Joaquín’ concert celebrates music, voices, traditions that shape the Valley
The Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA) and Radio Bilingüe will spotlight the music, culture and storytelling of corridos Sunday at the Roosevelt High School auditorium with a “Corridos del San Joaquín” concert.
Corridos, a storied Mexican ballad tradition, captures the experiences and voices of el pueblo — the people — bringing to life their struggles, joys, and resilience.
“Corridos are more than songs, they are living history, a way for communities to tell their stories, preserve traditions, and celebrate identity,” said Amy Kitchener, executive director of ACTA.
The free live concert celebrates the rich heritage of the San Joaquin Valley through the powerful tradition of corridos. The event will feature live performances by 10 finalists from a corrido contest, along with the groups Las Damas del Valle and Familia Morales.
“This concert highlights the voices that shape our region and inspires us to embrace the shared cultural threads that connect us all,” Kitchener said.
Kitchener said the corrido contest was open in Kern, Kings, Tulare, Madera, Fresno, Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.
The contest’s 10 finalists were Adrián Sánchez Ávila, 17, of Ducor; Félix Arreola, 46, of Clovis; Gregoria Sánchez, 71, of Watsonville; Heriberto Jaime Pérez, 60, of Visalia; John B. Soto, 71, of Fresno; Martín Rodríguez, 57, of Gonzales; Nelly Paredes, 73, of Oakdale; Rodolfo Carranza, 54, of Hayward; Salvador Mendoza, 62, of Bakersfield; and Salvador Urista Alvarado, 68, from Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco, Mexico.
Arreola wrote his corrido, “El emigrante,” or the emigrant,about the immigration experience in the San Joaquin Valley.
Soto, who is a U.S. citizen, came to Fresno at age 20. Soto’s corrido, “El Valle de San Joaquín,” talks about his first job experience working in the fields and how important the Valley is to the world.
The concert is part of the Sounds of California/Sonidos de California: San Joaquín Valley initiative, a research and community engagement project that explores music and soundscapes as vital expressions of collective experiences.
Kitchener said Sunday’s concert is funded in part by the City of Fresno Measure P Expanded Access to Arts and Culture Fund administered by the Fresno Arts Council, as well as the National Endowment for the Humanities.
How to attend:
Corridos del San Joaquín Concert
▪ When: Sunday, Dec. 8. Doors open at 2 p.m. for general admission. Concert begins at 3 p.m.
▪Where: Roosevelt High School Auditorium, 4250 East Tulare Avenue, Fresno, CA 93702
▪Admission: Free Admission. Open to the public.
▪More info: visit actaonline.org/corrido, or call (559) 242-6183 or email corrido@actaonline.org.
This story was originally published December 6, 2024 at 1:06 PM.
