Hi My name is Gabriela Unger I was born and raised in Albuquerque New Mexico. Home of the famous question…”Red or Green?” I'm an 18 year old girl with a passion for music. More Specifically Mariachi Music. I was raised listening to this kind of music in my household, being that my dad is a mariachi performer himself. My dad had played for 20+ years, so even before I was born I could hear it. I have play violin, and have played for 9 or so years. When I was about 14, I started playing with my dads group called Mariachi Tierra Encantada. It was a blessing for me just to be able to go and perform with men who knew so much about anything and everything. I quickly began to learn music as every weekend I would go and play. I would play Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from about 6 at night until midnight, and maybe work early mornings. In High school I started to Play with the Albuquerque High School Group, called Mariachi San Jose. Our director Al Gurule teaches middle and high school student to learn the ways of a Mariachi. He supplies us with beautiful suits, and music for us to learn. With my time at Albuquerque High School I learned a little bit of guitar and trumpet, music theory, and how to cooperate with others. I have been with Mariachi San Jose for about five years, and still playing with them. This being my fifth year, I have learned well over 100 songs and have participated in showcases all over Albuquerque.
Our language being different, our dress codes from not only people but other mariachi groups, and the way we hear, play and most of all feel about the music makes us a discourse community and I am extremely proud to be in this one out of all the rest of them, Because I am Mariachi San Jose, and I’m a part of a unique discourse community.