Bill Text: TX HR1454 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Congratulating Dr. Dahlia Guerra of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on receiving the Ohtli Award from the Mexican Consulate in McAllen.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-05-19 - Reported enrolled [HR1454 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR1454-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 1454 | ||
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| 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 | ||
