Son Monarcas

Description

Son Monarcas is a Latin Folk Fusion ensemble led by Mercedes Inez and Irekani Ferreyra. Like that of the Monarch Butterfly, they take you on a musical migration from the USA to Latin America by fusing indie soul with traditional son & cumbia. Son Monarcas is comprised of musicians well-versed in the Afro-Mestizo genres of folk music from Latin America and blend the traditional with the contemporary by creating original arrangements of "son" while retaining the foundation of the traditional style. Their original compositions include influences of Cumbia, Jazz , Soul and Pop in English and Spanish.

Work Sample

Educational Program: "Butterfly Fandango" with Son Monarcas (Video presented at Millennium Park in 2015 as part of the Family Fun Series) Run time: 40min-1 hour with Q&A

Description:Traditional music and dance from Latin America is a vibrant blend of many different cultures. Come along with the musicians and dancers of Son Monarcas as they explore the Indigenous, African, and Spanish influences on the rhythms, movement, and melodies of Latin America. The audience will enjoy the collection of songs and dances, including Aztec drum and dance, zapateado (foot tapping) from Mexico. This lively, interactive performance featuring authentic instruments and dance engages audiences of all ages with energetic renditions of traditional music, and even a familiar melody that the students and teachers will all recognize and love. The program is very participatory throughout and aims to teach about the geography, history and culture of Mexico through the arts, always ending with time for questions and answers from the audience.

The music video “Baila” or “Dance” really acts as an anthem for bringing people together and forgetting our differences. This can especially be seen in the main chorus that states, “Baila, baila, baila con el pueblo; Baila, baila, el pueblo unido,” which translates to “Dance, dance, dance with the village; Dance, dance, the village is united.” It tries to communicate that people should let go of their prejudices and come together to dance and unite as one rather than be divided. The footage for the video was filmed throughout 2016-17 in Chicago, Mexico and at a multi-cultural festival in Greece and showcases all members of the ensemble, including myself, Mercedes Inez on voice and accordion, Irekani Ferreyra on voice and guitar, Kitt Lyles on bass, Sammie Torres on congas, Roberto Ferreyra on percussion and Bryan Pardo on clarinet. The video also includes Chicago Public School students from John Barry Elementary, a K-6 school where I taught music. The footage filmed in Mexico was shot in Mexico City & Morelia, Michoacan. It should be noted that the Mexican state of Michoacan is important for Son Monarcas because the band is named after the monarch butterfly, which resides in Michoacan,Mx in the winter and returns to Chicago in the spring.

"Volar Conmigo" is a new original song by Mercedes Inez Martinez and performed by Son Monarcas in collaboration with the renowned Chicago Children's Choir. This was an exciting collaboration between Son Monarcas and CCC last year in 2021 as part of a special initiative called "Canto Latino: Cruzando Fronteras". A remastered version of the song will be released by Son Monarcas this summer 2022.

The work samples we submitted showcase our broad programming. We can give educational performances for all ages, workshops, residencies and more, while also being able to perform at festivals as a dance band.Son Monarcas is made up of people who are Latinx, multi-racial and women. We strive to not only incorporate diversity, but represent and speak to everyone we are creating programming for. The focus of Son Monarcas is to celebrate culture, diversity, inclusion and equity through both its educational programming and its creative works. We are constantly trying to find new ways through art to celebrate culture and we are lucky to have art forms to be able to help us do this creatively. In our educational and concert programming, we teach about music and dance from around the world and how we are all connected through art. We specialize in music and dance from Mexico, but in our general programming we teach about folk music and dance from all over the world which exposes students to diverse cultures and helps to teach about the importance of inclusion. Son Monarcas is made up of people of color and led by a Latinx woman and man who know the importance of seeing yourself on a stage and the importance of engaging that audience through participatory music, dance and follow-up discussions.

History

Son Monarcas, formerly known as Tarima Son, is a traditional/contemporary musical group that was formed in 2001. They have been contracted to perform in various venues in the Chicago area such as the Old Town School of Folk Music, the Folk and Arts Fest in Evanston, The National Museum of Mexican Art, The Field Museum, and most recently in Millennium Park. Son Monarcas has also performed at the Folklife Fest of the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C., which tours in different states. Son Monarcas plays music that originated in Mexico. This music came about through the mixing of the cultures of African slaves, the Spanish, and principally, the indigenous people. The members of Son Monarcas have rich experience in the field of education, teaching Mexican music and dance (zapateado), making instruments (clay whistles, straw trumpets, drums, maracas etc.), and conducting poetry/musical workshops.

Artistic Vision

The mission of Son Monarcas is to promote cultural arts education through music, visual arts and dance. We strive to create a greater appreciation of traditional Mexican folk music and culture through new and engaging educational performances, workshops and creative works that speak to our growing multi-cultural world.

Our vision aims to be a leader in cultural arts education and creative work. We want to inspire our audiences to explore their cultural heritage and be accessible to anyone who wants to learn about folk music and dance from Mexico.We are committed to creating engaging experiences for audiences while delivering education and entertainment. We are innovative by creating new original works and integrating the Chicago styles of Jazz, Blues and World Music.

Programs for Specific Audience(s) Expertise

We are an approved Chicago Public School vendor agency and are committed to providing quality arts programming for students of all ages with a focus on cultural education through the arts. We have instructors that have been teaching for over 30 years and know how to inspire the next generation through cultural arts. We teach and perform for all ages, unfolding a world of experience for students of all backgrounds to learn about world cultures, language, geography, history, math, and more through the arts, with a specialty in Latin traditional music and dance. We have worked with a multitude of schools over the years, utilizing English, Spanish and bilingual programs designed for all ages and mindful of the State of Illinois Education Goals for Music, Dance, Visual Art, and Theatre. We work throughout Chicagoland as a proud Chicago Park District partner to bring the beautiful culture of Mexico to everyone through the arts. One example of this is our educational program "Butterfly Fandango" which teaches about Mexico through music, dance, and storytelling. We are proud to be a Latinx-led ensemble that is able to speak to our heritage and the large Latinx demographic of Chicago through folk music, dance and art.

Traditional Folk/Ethnic Artform Statement

Son Monarcas is made up of people of color who are speaking to the voice of people of color. We serve our community through dialogue by way of art. An example of this is when we perform in our neighborhood of Garfield Park and show how we are all connected through folk music and dance. We incorporate the lived experience of the community we serve by speaking to the people there and being one of those people who can relate to what happens in our Chicago neighborhood. Son Monarcas use Latin, African, Caribbean and world rhythms to show the connection we have to one another. We also create new pieces of music that speaks to the immigrant experience which is our own experience as well. It is for that reason that we are named Son Monarcas, which is after the monarch butterfly which acts as a symbol for freedom to migrate and move, which all peoples can relate to since we all came from somewhere.