MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 0:01

Welcome to another episode of Charros y Clásicos, a Bosky Strings Strings podcast. I'm your host, Miguel Gutiérrez, and I'm here with my good friend and co-host, Joel Ozuna.

Joel Lee Ozuna: 0:15

Hello, everyone, and thank you for joining us for another episode. Today, we have a pleasure welcoming a distinguished guest from the Lower Valley. Karina Vela is a highly accomplished musician and the head orchestra director of San Benito High School. Her passion for music extends beyond the classroom. She is also the founder of Mariachi Margaritas and San Benito Music Academy. Please welcome Karina Vela.

Karina Vela: 0:37

Thank you so much, guys. I'm so happy to be here today. Thank you.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 0:41

So finally, a year later, we get you.

Karina Vela: 0:44

A year later. Yes, yes. How you been? I'm being very well. Thank you. Getting ready for our festival that is coming up.

Joel Lee Ozuna: 0:53

Tell us more about that. What's going on?

Karina Vela: 0:55

I'm so excited to be here, guys. I wanted to share with you about our Mariachi Festival coming up in Bronzeville at Texas Southmost College. It will take place on April 25th and 26th. And we are so excited to bring Mariachi Reina de Los Angeles. They're going to be our future headliners. Also with U of H Mariachi Pumas. Y pues nada más y nada menos que Mariachi Margaritas.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 1:17

Nice, nice. Congratulations.

Karina Vela: 1:19

Thank you.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 1:19

That sounds really exciting. Tell us what it entails of this festival.

Karina Vela: 1:23

It titles the mariachi workshops where we're going to be giving classes to students that get registered, beginner, advanced, intermediate classes. Also a mariachi competition and a vocal competition. And then we will be closing with a grand concert on Saturday evening.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 1:41

Nice. A question I get asked a lot is, are these workshops just for students? I've had people ask me, you know, they show interest. Like, hey, do you think I could sign up for it? Like just normal, you know, people from the community that wants to partake in the workshop. Is that possible?

Karina Vela: 1:58

That is a very good question. And I think that Abigail Gonzalez would be the best person to answer because she's the one that, the coordinator, and she's taking the lead on that. I can get back to you on that.

Joel Lee Ozuna: 2:10

And who's going to be teaching these workshops?

Karina Vela: 2:12

It's going to be Mariachi Reina, as well as Margaritas, and Mariachi Pumas, students from the university.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 2:18

Great. So now that we finally have you here, Yeah, we can, you know, break you down. Who's Karina Vela? Where are you from? Where do you come from? Tell us about yourself.

Karina Vela: 2:28

Karina Vela. I was born in Matamoros. And I guess my story with music was that I guess when I was, I want to say third, fourth grade, I wanted to, the coach, the basketball coach, I guess he's, I like basketball. And he started playing. asking me, hey, Karina, you should join the basketball team after school. And I was so excited. I really wanted to join the team. So I go home and I tell my parents. And my mom's like, no, estás loca. I don't know what was happening during that time. There was a lot of rumors that, I guess, there was about abuse in that system. And like, no, you're not going to be there. And then because of religion, it's going to take too much time. And you know what she did instead? She said, you're going to get in guitar class. Wow. I know. So you were, okay, you were pushed into music. I was forced into music. Not pushed. Not pushed. Forced. And I did not want to. I was like, but mom, I want to be in basketball. Not guitar. No, no, no. And she had, she registered me and it was there at the school. She would take me. Because in Matamoros, School was over by noon, 12, 12.30. So I would go home, eat.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 3:45

I was going to ask, this was in Matamoros. In

Karina Vela: 3:46

Matamoros, yes, yes, in Matamoros. So it was go home, eat, and then come back from 3 to 4 for 30, Tuesdays and Thursdays for guitar class. The most cruel thing that I remember was sitting in the classroom learning F chord and seeing my friends and everyone right outside through the windows in the basketball court Oh, my God. Yes. That must have hurt. Yes. I still feel sour about it. And then to top it off within, I don't know, two, three months, four months, I don't remember, there was going to be a church party. And my mom decides to tell people, oh, she's learning the guitar. So she'll have a song ready for you guys later. But by this date. And I was like, what,

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 4:30

mother? Typical Hispanic families. Yes.

Joel Lee Ozuna: 4:34

She was your agent. Your

Karina Vela: 4:36

agent. I don't know. Por fin. One of those songs that are in Circulo de Edo. Yes. And I remember the time. And I could not say no to my parents, you know, because they're telling you how to do this because you have to do it. I was so nervous. My fingers were hurting so bad. I know, and I'm pretty sure I did horrible and I probably sang horrible, but everyone liked it. And I think that's when I was like, oh, I'm liking this. Okay. Yeah, so from there I started enjoying it. We had a rondalla because it was part of the rondalla recital. And then we moved to the U.S. And I wanted to find a place, a class, you know, at school where I could keep going learning the guitar. And I was in middle school. I remember going to sixth grade and going to Los Fresnos and checking the options. You know, there was band, there was choir. And I was like, no, I don't like that. None of those call my name or interest to me. So I didn't get in any of those. But I remember going home and practicing my guitar on my own. Yeah, nobody was pushing me. Nobody was telling me. It was from your own will. It was from my own will. And back then I'm a poner histórica because that's... Maybe how old I am. I had the cancioneros.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 5:58

You guys

Karina Vela: 5:58

remember those? The Juan Gabriel, the Maná, the Shakira, because I'm a big Shakira fan. Los tenía todos los cancioneros. And I would enjoy practicing and I would record myself in those cassettes. And then, but I wanted to be part of a group or something, you know. Finally, one day we went to a meeting at the high school and I saw the mariachi from Los Fresnos High School performing. And I was like, oh, there's guitars in mariachi. As a Mexican, I was not really aware of mariachi. It didn't really ring until I saw a group of young high school students playing guitar. I was like, this is where I can keep learning guitar and practicing guitar with an ensemble. And maybe that must have been eighth grade. So I was like, yay, so excited. So I made sure when I registered for high school, mariachi class. And you know how... You get really nervous for your first day in high school as a freshman. I was very nervous. But when I saw on my schedule first period mariachi, I was like, yay! I felt at home already. Great.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 7:06

Yes. Very small question because now you have me intrigued. And this is for, like, you know, young listeners. So when exactly did you start coming to the States for education?

Karina Vela: 7:16

When exactly?

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 7:18

What year? Yeah, when did you come over? Like, how old were you?

Karina Vela: 7:21

I was 11.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 7:22

Okay.

Karina Vela: 7:23

11. And I remember, um, they said there's, I've heard a lot of people that get, they get, for example, if you're in Mexico in fifth grade, did they move you back to fourth? Yes, they moved you back. That was not my case. Yeah, I was, I stayed exactly on the same grade level. Okay. And coming back, it was, it, a lot of people see it as the dream. To me, it was a nightmare. Mm-hmm. Because, I don't know, my life in Mexico is a little bit more comfortable

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 7:52

than when we went here. I was about to ask, what was the adjustment from Matamoros to this

Karina Vela: 7:55

side? It was, I wanted to go back. I wanted to go back for maybe a whole year or two. I was like, no, I don't want to be here. My parents did everything they could in their power to make us feel comfortable. But let me share a little bit about how it was. Back then at home, we would live the comfortable life. My dad is a banker. My mom owned her own business as well. We live very comfortable. And since the attorneys told us, you know what, you have, I don't know, three weeks. If you want to make this happen, you have three weeks to come move in. You're going to have to turn in your visas. My dad got a working visa where he could still come back and forth. So imagine a lot of people work here and send money over there. My dad worked over there and had to provide money for us. He would still live here. He would come and go every single day to Matamoros to work. And since it was so fast, I had my tíos. They own a big acre property. But my tíos live like at a mobile home, and my tío had like a mechanic shop. And I guess my tíos were going to move, and the only place available to live was that mechanic shop. So imagine a mechanic shop. Within three weeks, put walls and make it like a home. I clearly remember we used to have, you know, that hole where they get... Yes, yes. We had that in our living room. Wow. Yes. And then my parents would carpet and everything, but I read so often, I guess, the sand or whatever that it would... Sink. The leveling. The leveling of that big rectangle would sink in the middle of our carpet. So we had to move it and put it back again. Oh, goodness. Yes. There was still... I want to go even... I'm being very vulnerable here. There was still not... ¿Cómo se dice? Agua potable.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 9:48

Oh, okay. Like running water.

Karina Vela: 9:49

Running water. So they had to make it fast. And I remember, because this happened in January. It was really cold. Oh, my goodness. My first showers in the U.S. was outside. Wow. And I was like, and that was my shock, you know. And eventually, with time, my parents were able to fix things and make the place more comfortable. Then within years, we got our new home that was like an actual home, not a mechanic shop. A makeshift home. A makeshift home that was a mechanic shop.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 10:29

Wow.

Karina Vela: 10:29

But I still pass by that area and it brings very fond memories. Yes, it does.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 10:36

I feel like all of us have that, I mean, not a mechanic shop, but that place where we used to live or we used to hang out as kids and it brings nostalgia. Yes. So I think that's what you're referring to right now.

Karina Vela: 10:48

Nostalgia, yeah. Definitely, yes. One of the best times of my life. Because I received Shakira's letter that day. I need to share about Shakira's letter. Okay, tell us about that. Well, during that time, you know, cassettes time and stuff, I bought Shakira. Her album is going to come out May 25th. I made sure to be at the Walmart or whatever to buy it. You know, so I go, I bought the cassette and I opened it and it has... It had this sign. Si quieres escribir unas cartas a Shakira, mándale a este correo. Y estaba apartado aéreo 89295. I still remember the address.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 11:30

Oh, goodness.

Karina Vela: 11:31

So there's middle school Karina Vela bien... Fan hardcore de Shakira. I would write to her maybe once a week. Wow. I know. That's how... You were dedicated. I was dedicated. In high school, my nickname was Shakirina. Así de... So I would write, write, write. Y luego el autobús no se jaba. And I would still have to walk a good... There was a mailbox by the bus drop-off. And I had to walk a good... Una cuadra. A block. A block. Yes, yes. Thank you. Oye, pues que checo el buzón. And every day I would check the mailbox and I see a letter with an address from Colombia. I could not jump high enough. And I was running to get home to open it at home. I could not wait. In the middle of the road, I opened it and it was a letter from Shakira. Yes, with her. She sent me an autographed postcard. That I still have frame at home. I was about to ask, do you have it? I have it. I have it. And no, no, no. It was one of the best. And it happened at that house, at that mechanic shop place. Yes. Very fond memory.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 12:42

Wow. That's a good memory. So trailing back to your story. So you joined Ariachi. Tell us about that.

Karina Vela: 12:51

It was awesome. I felt at home right at the moment I walked in that classroom. After middle school years of not feeling that you belong somewhere, I was like, wow, I love it. And it made the rest of my high school years very happy. I would feel like every year was better and better. And I think it helped that I already played guitar. So Mr. Vasquez, my former mariachi director, me puso en la viguela. And I was like, cool, I'm liking this because it's not guitar. I'm learning something kind of new, still the same, but new. And I loved it. I remember the first time we had a performance and I had my mariachi traje. Nombre, no me lo quise quitar en todo el día. I wore it all day long for the performance. And I was like, do I really need to take this mariachi outfit off?

Joel Lee Ozuna: 13:42

You're proud

Karina Vela: 13:43

to wear it. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Actually, Toño, because I think he worked fast forward years in mariachi. Antonio Delgadillo, one day he sends me a picture. Hey, Karina, I think this is your mariachi, your former mariachi traje. It has your name on it. I was like, whoa. So I don't know if it's still there. That should be framed. I need to get it.

Joel Lee Ozuna: 14:05

But quick question. So when you, you said you learned to play guitar, were you self-taught or did you have somebody teaching you back in the day?

Karina Vela: 14:13

Guitar back in the day in that rondella class that my mom put me into. And it was like, Because they show you the basics, right? And then I think I would just practice more and more and more and more on those three years by myself. Con los cancioneros, con las canciones de Maná, de Shakira, de Juan Gabriel. I'm going to be very honest. I know I've heard people from here, like, por ejemplo, Avi, that she shares how she was raised with mariachi music and she loved it. For some reason in Mexico, they don't... or at least back then, teach you that love for mariachi music. It was more like listening, like I said, Shakira, Mana, Luis Miguel, or these pop artists or soft rock artists. And the one thing that I love about the U.S. is that as a Mexican, I learned to love my culture here in the U.S. more, as far as mariachi is concerned, more than in Mexico.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 15:06

Wow. I feel like a lot of us in that same generation... learn that because our parents are originally from Mexico. And since, you know, they're not home, they teach us that culture. And, you know, I think through our own music, we've been able to embrace it. So that's a really good point to point out. Tell us about when you graduate from high school, then you decide to study music, right?

Karina Vela: 15:31

No, I didn't know what I wanted to do.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 15:34

Okay, tell us about that.

Karina Vela: 15:35

Yes, I graduated from high school and I knew I wanted to continue my education, right? So I went to UTB. UT Brownsville, and I was taking my basics. And since I love mariachi, I was part of Mariachi Scorpion. So playing the vihuela, right? And one day I'm sitting there with Marta Placeres, now Dr. Placeres. She was co-directing Mariachi Scorpion, but she was also starting the orchestra in Brownsville. So we're sitting there outside Aitman, you know, and she tells me, What's your major? You know what? I don't even know. She's like, really? Like you're always here in the music building. Haven't you thought? I don't play violin. Viguela is not an option. I tried classical guitar, but it was not for me. And she told me, well, if I teach you violin, I've always wanted to learn violin. She's like, if I teach you violin, would you be a music major? I was like, would you teach me violin in college? She's like, yeah. I was like, sure. And it was really cool. I said yes right away. I went, I signed up for my music classes and I realized how much or how little I knew about music because I did not know. I only knew how to read armonia, you know, and really it's not, you don't know how to read by notes, the clefs, nothing like that. So Marta taught me literally from how to hold the violin to how to read music. The clef, the music, the notes, the rhythms, everything. Wow. Yes, and she took the challenge.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 17:10

Wow. So she basically convinced you to study music.

Karina Vela: 17:15

Yes, she convinced me. I guess, I don't know, I want to say she probably saw it in me, or she probably really needed students. Whatever the case was, it was awesome. And I've shared with her that I would always be thankful for that opportunity and for giving me that chance because... A lot of people, who would teach a college student a brand new instrument, especially a violin, yes. And towards the end of my career, I'm so proud to say that I made it to second violin chair, principal. Nice. Yes, at UTB, and we got to travel to Puebla to do the tours, and music in my college years, and in all my life, has always made my life better. And I have very fond memories of high school, thanks to music, and very, very fond memories of college to music. And throughout life, how music still helps, always.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 18:11

So when you wrapped up your degree in Brownsville, what did you do next?

Karina Vela: 18:17

What did I do next? I was trying to get a job as an orchestra teacher, right? There was not a position open right then and there. So I thought... Even though I was waiting for my degree to arrive and the only thing available was to become a paraprofessional. I think it was experimental back then. It was a mix of a special ed class with a kinder class in Harlingen. And if I may share, I was like, okay, this is not for me. I could not wait long enough for my degree to get here. So then from there... There was an opportunity to be a music elementary teacher in Raymondville. So I applied. I got the job. So for one year, I would drive to Raymondville every single day.

Joel Lee Ozuna: 19:07

And that's right. I remember back then, orchestra was new to the Lower Valley. I think Harlingen was the first one in the Lower Valley. Eventually, it spread. Well, kind of.

Karina Vela: 19:21

It's slowly getting there. So I was in Raymondville. Then from there... Elementary music, it's very beautiful, but you need a lot of energy with the

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 19:30

babies, right? It takes a special breed for elementary music. Yes, my

Karina Vela: 19:34

respect to all the elementary teachers, music elementary teachers, because it's a lot of hard work. Not that the other ones aren't, right? Of course. So then there was a job opportunity in Harlingen for an assistant orchestra director. So I taught at Coakley and Vela with Lucas Darger and Dana

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 19:52

Cabot. That's right.

Karina Vela: 19:53

Yes. And I learned a lot from both of them. And especially from Donna. She's like so funny and energetic. And both of those programs were very, very strong programs.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 20:09

At that point in time. At that point in time.

Karina Vela: 20:11

Sorry, yes. At that point in time. Most big programs in Harlington. Yes. And then one day, towards the end of the school year, Mark Pasaldua, quien pasa a escasez, calls me and he's like, Hey, Karina. He worked in San Benito. There's going to be an opening because San Benito wants to open an orchestra program. And they're looking for someone that can do orchestra and mariachi as well. Y me dice, there's already someone already that might get it, but I don't know, would you like to go do an interview? And I'm like, yes, because I want it. my own program, you know. And sure enough, they said the interview, Mr. Willie Perez, me dice, vente con el guitarrón, la vihuela, el violín. So I go to the job interview at San Benito High School, and I get my guitarrón, la vihuela, el violín, and he asked me to play and asked me questions, and we go through the interview process. And then weeks later, they called me and they said, Karina, you got the job. I was like, yay! I was so excited.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 21:19

Wow.

Karina Vela: 21:19

It was exciting. It was challenging because after that he tells me, well, there's no orchestra program here. I need for you to create the budget. Start it, basically. Start it. And I had to literally go to middle schools and everywhere to recruit, go to registration. People wouldn't even at that time. like not even know what orchestra is and titles. So I would have to go sit out there with my table and the violin and tell people, hey, tell kids, join. So it was challenging, but very nice. I remember the first day of school in San Benito. Since it was so new and nobody knew, I didn't have classes. I would just sit down all day. And we opened the mariachi class. And I had a mariachi class with band students that wanted to be in mariachi. And then from there, starting talking to principals, introduced myself and what I was there for. And then by the end of the school year, of course, I had classes. But it was starting from scratch, from nothing. And there's three middle schools in San Benito, a ninth grade academy, and then the high school. So my, I would say, I don't know, second or third year, I would teach at all the five schools in one day. So I'm a traveling teacher. Yes. And I'm so excited and I would be so proud to say that my first year that we went to UIL, which was the second year of the program, my middle school got sweepstakes. Nice. Yes. And from there it has been great. growing and, and I do teach mariachi. It's an afterschool. Um, I feel like we're so thin it's been now, um, back then it was myself and, and Abby. And then when she got her job at Texas Southwest college that we have, I have a new assistant and Mr. Fermin Castillo. And it's both of us teaching at the five schools, three middle schools, uh, 9th grade academy in high school.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 23:24

So you guys traveled to all the middle schools? We traveled.

Karina Vela: 23:26

Yes, yes, yes.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 23:28

So how long have you been at San Benito now?

Karina Vela: 23:31

I have been in San Benito. It's been the longest. I love San Benito. I think, I want to say I'm going, I'm on my 15th year of teaching.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 23:39

Wow.

Karina Vela: 23:39

So 13 years have been in San Benito. 13 years. 13 years, yes.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 23:43

Nice, nice. Now tell us where in this, you know, in the 13 years that you've been there, Tell us about Mariachi Margaritas.

Karina Vela: 23:52

Mariachi Margaritas. Mariachi Margaritas happened when I was still in college. There was also a female mariachi in Escorpión. So I remember most of my best friends were in the mariachi, and we're like, ah, it would be nice to do this, you know, as a professional group. After I graduated from high school, Mr. Gausin, because he was the director back then when I graduated from high school, He called me one day, hey, Karina, I'm on Saturday. Are you busy right now? No, I'm here. He's like, you have a black skirt and a white shirt? Yeah. I need a vihuela player, Macy. You want to come play? Sure. So we went and played with them at Mariachi Nuevo Imperial. This was right after high school. And I loved it. And so I played with Mariachi Nuevo Imperial for about, I want to say, six, seven years. Then it turned into Split and Potrillos and then Imperial. But I wanted, I guess it was that movement for girl power and female groups. The drive. The drive, yes. And I was like, you know what? I think I want to try my own group. And if it can be an all-female group, even nicer, you know? And let's see what happens. So we got together on February 22nd in 2009. And the girls were like, yeah, let's do it. And I had some of the originals are still in Margaritas. I think they're the only originals right now. And yes, from there, it's a learning experience, right? Through how to manage as a business, as a group, with the girls, how we go with the learning experience as far as the musicality. So it's been amazing. 2009, February 22nd. Cumplimos 16 años en febrero. Nice. Yeah, sweet 16.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 25:57

And you've done tours too now with Margaritas, right?

Karina Vela: 26:00

Sí, we've been so lucky to do tours. We got a call from Pepe Aguilar's manager back in, I want to say, 2016. And he's like, hey, Karina, estamos buscando un mariachi para que haga un tour en Texas con Ángel Aguilar. ¿Sabes quién es Ángel Aguilar? No sabía. Bien mal, yo, yo soy bien mal. You know, honestly. Pero pues, hija de Pepe Aguilar, sí, lo que tú digas, you know. So he's like, okay, well, can you guys please send us a video of you guys playing and your mariachi outfits and everything. I was like, sure. So we got together. We sent him the video. So we were so excited. We did it. And then he calls us. Okay, Karina, are you available? We need to do this date. It's going to be, can you again give me a quote, a budget, and from there. We went, so we did. I'm so proud to say that we did Angela's very first solo tour by herself.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 27:12

I was going to say you were like the first ones,

Karina Vela: 27:13

right? Yes, thank you. She would always go with her dad, you know, sing at her dad's or the Jaripeos. But that was her first solo tour. And then the very first one, it would always stay in my mind. It was in Dallas. And we played... One of her songs. And at the end, she had a standing ovation. As a little girl, a standing ovation. And even her mom came to stage. And it was a very magical moment. Wow. For her. Because you're

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 27:51

making history. Yes. Especially for that legacy. Yeah.

Karina Vela: 27:54

Yes. And it humbles me that we were able to be part of that, you know. And after that, it was so fun. The next... date a year or two later when she did her tour in Texas. Sorry, it was her Texas tour. We did her second Texas tour. Then the pandemic happened. I think we got COVID after that. And then after the pandemic, they called me. This time it's going to be her U.S. tour. So we got ready for that. They also gave us the chance or the privilege of opening with them for the Canelo fight. Nice. Yes, that was amazing.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 28:36

A lot of opportunities. A

Karina Vela: 28:37

lot of opportunities.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 28:38

But you've accompanied other celebrities too, right?

Karina Vela: 28:41

Sí, thanks to the Mr. Amigo Association that I'm also part of. We've had the chance to accompany Mr. Amigos, you know, like starting with Pedro Fernández. Pedro Fernández. Recently, José Cantoral, que es el hijo de Roberto Cantoral, que escribió Reloj. So we're very excited that he's going to be part of it because he has this love for the valley, for the lower valley as well.

Joel Lee Ozuna: 29:18

Doesn't

Karina Vela: 29:20

he have a house here in Rancho Viejo? So music has given me so many... Beautiful, beautiful moments that I always think on my last moment on earth, you know how they say that memories flash? Your life flashes through

Joel Lee Ozuna: 29:42

you.

Karina Vela: 29:42

I think a lot of those are going to be music related. Yes.

Joel Lee Ozuna: 29:46

Well, speaking of how music has given you a lot, tell us more about your project there with the San Benito Music Academy. Now it looks like you're the one giving

Karina Vela: 29:54

music. Oh, thank you. San Benito Music Academy.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 29:58

Yes.

Karina Vela: 29:58

started as Armonia Music, right? We still call it Armonia. Business-wise or paper-wise, it's still Armonia, LLC. And it started with Avi and myself with a dream to bring music lessons, private music lessons on the lower half. There's music schools in Brownsville, private music schools, but I feel like it's still not as big as how here in the Upper Valley is, especially in the San Benito area. Harlingen area. So it was our dream, our vision is to have that available so that a lot of charter schools don't have music and charter schools are growing and there's more ideas, more horizons, more that they don't have this music. So that's who we try to cater the most. And we, our mission is to give a quality music experience education to the students where they also have fun and where parents can come and enjoy while they're waiting for their son and daughter to have the lesson. So we try to make it a very comfortable area environment so that they look forward to my me time on my phone or while they're waiting for their kids.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 31:17

I think maybe your second or third recital, I saw you post pictures of on Facebook from the recital. And I just remember seeing so many kids. And I remember Juan and I talking about that, like, look at all those kids that they're getting over there. There is an interest.

Karina Vela: 31:35

There is. There is. When we started San Benito Music Academy, we started in January. We rented the place November. We got it ready within November, December to open our doors in January. And we had about 12 students in January. pandemic hit, right? So it's like, oh man, we had to close. And then from there, six, seven months start all over again. We started with a smaller suite and thank God we were able to expand where we like take to double the space now. And right now we're currently have about 120 students at the moment. Yes, yes,

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 32:18

yes. That's good. And you have other teachers too, right?

Karina Vela: 32:21

We do, yes. We have about five or six teachers and a full-time manager and a part-time.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 32:29

And what kind of lessons do you teach, like guitar?

Karina Vela: 32:33

All of our lessons are private lessons. We teach guitar, violin, cello, voice, piano, drums, hopefully soon accordion. We're working into getting an accordion teacher as well. But yeah.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 32:49

You know, listing all your projects, when do you have time? How do you manage your time?

Karina Vela: 32:55

That's a good question. I don't know. There's still time. Lately, I get up early and I don't go home usually by around 8 or 9.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 33:07

Yeah, I ask because lots of students, you know, when they tell me, I want to study music or, you know, and we start talking about the investment of time. And I explain, you know, well, you had to think about it. You had to invest all this time in your practicing. You got to invest all this time in your schooling and whatnot, working, gigging, you know, so you could make that goal. And sometimes when they graduate, I feel like they still don't understand that there's still a lot of commitment after you graduate.

Karina Vela: 33:36

Yes, yes, yes. A lot of commitment afterwards. And it does take a lot of time if you sit down and think about it. I guess I don't sit down and think about it because I enjoy it and it doesn't feel like a job. But yeah, I mean, my day, my morning starts 6.30. I'm at work by 7.50 and teach all day public school to like 4.45. And when I stay after school with my students, it's 6.30. From there, go to Armonia and we close at around 8.00. And then Fridays, weekends, mariachi rehearsal, and then gigs. And Sunday's probably the only day to chill. Right? And then we're here sometimes. Or catch up to all the things we didn't have a chance to finish throughout the week.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 34:24

What would you say is the biggest adversity you've faced in your entire career? Like, what's the most difficult thing you've faced to get to where you're at?

Karina Vela: 34:36

Ooh. That's a good question. The most adversity. I guess I would say personally when I lost my brother on a car accident. My brother was also a mariachi. He was six years younger than me. So when he went to high school, he also joined mariachi and he played vihuela and he sang. He was very handsome, very cute. What can I say, right? So when he passed away in that car accident, I wanted to stop being a mariachi. I was like, I can't do this anymore. I just, no. So it took me a while. I was like, and then listening to music, you know, that I guess music is something we love and we feel so much, but when something tragic happens, you don't want to listen. At least to me, I didn't want to listen to music. And I was like, you know, this is what I do every day. So eventually it came to me like, okay, if he was still here, he would still be a mariachi. So there was a point where I said, okay, I'm going to do it not for me at this moment because I don't feel it, but for him. And after that happened in 2009, because it also happened in 2009 when I started Margaritas. So it was at the very, I started Margaritas in February. He passed away in July. Oh, wow. I know. So it was like, do I want to continue or not? But thinking of doing it for him was what drove me and made me for a couple of, for some time, you know, and then through personal relationship también. And I was motivated by my spouse and let's do this, you know, and we continued. But it was music, it was that part of my life that made it very difficult.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 36:39

Wow, that's definitely a powerful thing. You know, it sounds very cliche, but music does heal. It does. It definitely does heal. And I tell kids and I tell people, you know, sometimes you just feel... Like this or like that, just listen. Sometimes if you just listen, you'd be surprised the things that music can do.

Karina Vela: 37:00

Yes, and I saw it firsthand with my family, my parents, my brother. They have a job that they enjoy and they love. And I feel that thanks to music, I was able to move on a little bit or heal, not move on, but heal faster. Because you go to school and you teach music and you hear these beautiful orchestra arrangements or these beautiful mariachi. Or you go play and you're going through this zone where you're playing and your brain stops thinking of the hurt and you enjoy the music. And that's what helps you and motivates you. And a lot of people don't have that. And I see it in my brother and my parents. They do like music, but it has taken them a little bit more to be able to be okay, then I feel like music has made me stronger in that aspect.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 37:57

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Karina Vela: 37:59

Where do I see myself? Oh, that's a very good question. I want to say that as a Capricorn that I am, and a lot of people might say, I do love money. Money, people say it's not happiness, but it makes life easier. So my goal is to work and keep working until I have freedom of, you know, I feel free right now because I do what I love. You

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 38:33

want more wiggle room.

Karina Vela: 38:34

Yes, yes. That, hey, okay, if I have problems at work, pues I can leave it because I don't need it, you know. If I want to, I don't know, create my dream, our dream, is to have harmonia, give us that freedom, you know, where let's just focus on mariachi festivals, you know, let's focus on if we want to go travel, we can do it. We have the freedom and the business is running and music keeps flourishing, you know. And what I see myself to as far as music education, it's to be in the right places to help promote and grow this music so that I can have the freedom to go advocate. And my dream is for Bronzeville to have all the fine arts in music that bigger cities here like McAllen have, where there's an orchestra program in Bronzeville, where mariachi now is getting there, you know? And I would dare say that I think it has a lot to do with the work that Avi and I have been doing when we started the Mariachi Festival, where we would go to BISD board meetings and talk about it and advocate for mariachi. And to know that now there's mariachi in all the high schools. When we saw Hana Mariachi perform at our festival, Or see them... I mean, I saw each other and we cried. We could not stop crying. Because like, yay, that's... It feels like our baby that somehow what we're doing started that, you know? And you might... Maybe it's not... It's not... Como que la gente no lo ve the back behind it. Because sometimes

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 40:25

we feel like... What happens behind the curtain.

Karina Vela: 40:26

Yes, yes. Or sometimes people might think, oh, pues es que ya tenía que pasar o es que hasta otra persona lo hizo. But I feel like... We have done a lot of work to make that happen, and we're still working towards that a lot. Recently, at one of the Mr. Amigo events, we were able to talk to someone from BISD, and this lady shared that it's already in the books to have mariachi at the middle schools in BISD. We're like, yay! You know, that melts our heart and makes not our day, but our whole week happy. So that's where I see myself in the future, to be in a place where we have mariachi and orchestra and BISD and where we had little or a lot to do with it.

Joel Lee Ozuna: 41:15

And what's a piece of advice that you would have for somebody who wants to pursue a passion, not necessarily music, but a passion?

Karina Vela: 41:22

To do it, to go for it, to not hesitate, you know? I have this thing where sometimes I do things that I'm like, oh my gosh, what am I doing? I'm either too brave or too stupid to do this. Lately was like playing the drums, you know, two weeks, two, three weeks ago. I just learned how to play the drums in August. And I was like, oh my God, we had a performance at Hueso. And Aide, Joe, and Mark, they're awesome. I admire them. They're very talented. And I'm like, I'm going to play drums with these guys. I already know these songs. I've been doing this for a while. And then we went right after this really group... of very talented younger kids. And the crowd was all into them. And I was like, oh my God, am I either too stupid or too brave to be doing this? So, and we did it and I was like, oh, cool. It was not as bad. So I guess I go back to this because sometimes people hesitate. Do I do it? Do I go for it? Do I not? I guess my advice is, yeah, be either too stupid or too brave to do it. You're not going to regret it.

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 42:37

Well, I think that you've definitely made an impact. in your community that area of the valley and it's something that I mean it just really worked out nicely we see so much growth on that side it's getting there so I think what you're doing is good things stop don't stop chiseling away yeah keep going

Karina Vela: 42:58

thank you thank you thank you it motivates to hear this and we can't stop it already started we cannot stop it until it gets to where it

MIGUEL GUTIERREZ: 43:11

should be Thank you, Karina. Well, thanks for listening, everyone. That's all I have to say.

Karina Vela: 43:18

Awesome. Thank you. Thank you, thank you. Thank you guys for the time and for letting me be here today. Gracias.