H.R. No. 1454
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Dr. Dahlia Guerra of The University of Texas Rio
Grande Valley received the Ohtli Award from the Mexican Consulate
in McAllen in recognition of her contributions to Mexican American
culture; and
WHEREAS, In 1989, as a lecturer in music at UTRGV, Dr. Guerra
founded the university's mariachi program; she began raising money
herself for the elaborate traditional suits, until the university
president arranged funding; while also working on her doctoral
degree at the University of Oklahoma, she helped sew and embellish
the trajes and develop Mariachi Aztlán; the group began with five
members and grew into an acclaimed ensemble that has traveled
throughout Mexico, the United States, and Canada; in 2010, it
performed at the White House for the signing of an executive order
supporting Hispanic initiatives, and it has appeared at such venues
as the Hollywood Bowl, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing
Arts, and the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival; and
WHEREAS, The mariachi program has continued to expand, and
today, it also includes the Mariachi Aztlán Juvenil and Mariachi
Azalea ensembles; UTRGV offers a unique bachelor of music education
degree with a mariachi concentration, which was recently accredited
by the National Association of Schools of Music; and
WHEREAS, In 2006, Dr. Guerra established the FESTIBA program
to promote early childhood literacy while celebrating the cultural
arts; each year, 500 to 600 students from across the region have the
opportunity to learn from guest artists, authors, and scholars, as
well as to enjoy the music of mariachi masters and take part in
mariachi workshops; many high schools now have their own mariachi
ensembles, and since 2016, UIL has included the genre; and
WHEREAS, An Edinburg native, Dr. Guerra currently serves as
special assistant to the dean of the UTRGV College of Fine Arts; she
previously served as dean, as well as assistant vice president for
public arts and special projects; as chair of the music department,
she established its master of music program; she holds a bachelor's
degree in music from UTRGV, a master of music degree from Southern
Methodist University, and a doctor of musical arts degree from the
University of Oklahoma; as a pianist, she has performed in numerous
solo, chamber, and symphony settings; and
WHEREAS, Dahlia Guerra has played a significant role in the
advancement of mariachi music in the United States, fostering
greater appreciation for this magnificent art form and increasing
involvement in its performance, and she is richly deserving of this
prestigious accolade; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Dahlia Guerra on receiving the
Ohtli Award from the Mexican Consulate in McAllen and extend to her
sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Dr. Guerra as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Guerra
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1454 was adopted by the House on May
19, 2023, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House