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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SONES DE MÉXICO ENSEMBLE AND SEPTEMBER 26TH AS SONES DE MÉXICO ENSEMBLE DAY
WHEREAS, founded in 1994, Sones de México Ensemble is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote greater appreciation of Mexican folk and traditional music and culture through innovative performance, education, and dissemination; and
WHEREAS, Sones de México Ensemble is the country’s premier folk music organization specializing in Mexican ‘son’, including the regional styles of huapango, gustos, chilenas, son jarocho, and more; and
WHEREAS, Sones de México Ensemble’s first public performance was in Chicago’s historic Pilsen neighborhood on April 9, 1994, at Taller Mexicano de Grabado; and
WHEREAS, in 1996 the quintet released their first album, “¡Que Florezca! (Let it Bloom),” a four-part suite of songs based on the elements of Air, Water, Fire, and Earth and a general theme revolving around flowers, blooming, and rebirth; and
WHEREAS, in 1999 Sones de México Ensemble began long-time cross-cultural collaborations with Irish fiddler Sean Cleland, and with trumpet player John Hagstrom and his brass quintet, both of whom would record in the band’s albums; and
WHEREAS, Sones de México Ensemble released “Fiesta Mexicana” and “íViva La Revolución!” which won a Parents’ Choice Award; and
WHEREAS, this album is the basis for the ensemble’s family interactive concert “Fiesta Mexicana,” which is part of their outreach initiatives and reaches thousands of youth each year; and
WHEREAS, Sones de México Ensemble celebrated its 20th anniversary in September with an all-star concert at Chicago’s Pritzker Pavilion featuring past and current members and one hundred special guest musicians and dancers from across their many collaborations. Nearly 10,000 people were in attendance; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, Sones de México Ensemble participated in the 20th season of Chicago Summer Dance in Grant Park, headlined the official Indianapolis Mexican Independence Day ceremony, and took the “Los San Patricios: the Irish Soldiers of Mexico” concert collaboration to Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana; and
WHEREAS, in late 2021, in association with the Chicago Park District/Night Out in the Parks, Sones de México Ensemble collaborated with the Tony Award-winning Goodman Theatre to present “Zulema” with a script commissioned by the band from Chicago playwright Dolores Díaz; and
WHEREAS, in 2022, in partnership with Metropolitan Family Services (MFS), and founded by the Ralla Klepak Foundation, Sones de México Ensemble embarked on a two-year project to expand their Mexican Music School; and
WHEREAS, in 2023 the Mexican Music School launched guitar and violin classes at their Belmont-Cragin site, which added 76 new students through the Spring and Fall sessions, growing the number of students to over 150 across the three sites (Pilsen/La Villita, Rogers Park, and Belmont-Cragin/Hermosa), and online; and
WHEREAS, Sones de México Ensemble has produced 6 albums, including the twice Grammy-nominated Esta Tierra Es Tuya (This Land is Your Land); and
WHEREAS, Sones de México Ensemble has exhibited a strong commitment to serving others by offering educational and outreach programs, including music lessons, elementary and college residencies, children’s programs, workshops, lectures, and songwriting classes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby recognize and honor the 30th Anniversary of the Sones de México Ensemble and celebrate September 26th as Sones de México Ensemble Day; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this text be spread upon the proceedings of this Honorable Body and that a suitable copy of this resolution is presented to the Sones de México Ensemble in honor of its outstanding achievements and its 30th anniversary.
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