Nominated last year for both a Grammy and a Latin Grammy, Sones de México Ensemble is a six-member folklórico band based in Chicago. Formed in 1994, the sextet specializes in the authentic performance of Mexican son, including the regional styles of huapango, gustos, chilenas, son jarocho, and more. Using such traditional Mexican instruments as the vihuela, jarana, marimba and requinto as well as violin, guitar, mandolin and percussion, the group expertly evokes the rich musical tapestry of traditional Mexico. The band has recorded three albums—Que Florezca (Let It Bloom), Fandango on 18th Street and Esta Tierra Es Tuya (This Land Is Your Land)—and has performed at the Philadelphia Folk Festival and on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. Sones de México is highly regarded for its educational work at schools and festivals, conducting workshops and other activities for children and families with Spanish, English and bi-lingual programs.

This presentation is supported by the Performing Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art, with additional contributions from Ohio, General Mills Foundation, and Land O’Lakes Foundation.