The Texas Wesleyan University Department of Music had its annual Hispanic Heritage Month Recital on Thursday, Oct. 9 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., during free period.  

Martin Hall was full of music, and it was a lively celebration of Latinx culture, connection and innovation. The event lasted an hour and included performances by students and educators, as well as the voices of W.M. Green Elementary’s After School Choir. It was an amazing and touching experience.  

Before the first note was played, the atmosphere felt festive and welcoming. Professor Ilka Araújo, chair of the music department, who organized the recital, opened by greeting the crowd and highlighting that the event’s purpose was to honor Hispanic Heritage Month through music that bridges generations and communities.  

Texas Wesleyan President Dr. Emily Messer followed, offering a warm welcome to W.M. Green’s young performers and their families, calling them “future Rams” and inviting them to return to campus for future events. 

That sense of belonging echoed throughout the program. “We behave as a family,” Araújo told the audience. “We want you to feel that higher education is for you.” Her message set the tone for a recital that showcased not only musical talent but also the university’s commitment to community and education. 

From the opening piano notes by Keith Critcher, Texas Wesleyan recital’s collaborative pianist and vocal area coordinator, to the final choir performance, the concert offered a tapestry of Latin American sounds and emotions. 

There was a variety of styles during the student performances, from the wistful “Te Quiero Dijiste” by Cecilia Díaz Vargas, a Texas Wesleyan music education junior to the furious “Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2” by Micah Ross, Texas Wesleyan piano student, whose impassioned piano playing had the crowd cheering. The duet “Confieso,” sung by Thalia and accompanied by Critcher, was a narrative impressively rendered with great passion. Thalia’s voice was full of emotion, which made the song feel very personal and vivid. 

Another great performance was “Tico Tico,” an extraordinary duet with Critcher on piano and a Texas Wesleyan music education student, Justin Talamantez on trumpet. The rhythm was so catchy that the crowd had to move. Later, the Mariachi Oro Azul group played “Carino & De Colores,” which brought the crowd to life even more with a mix of guitars, violins, trumpets, and flutes. This Latinx-music was so lively that everyone in the audience sang along.

The collaboration with W.M. Green Elementary School, led by alumnus David Walter, gave the recital its heart. Before their performance, the audience joined to sing “Happy Birthday” to one of the young choir members. It was a spontaneous, touching moment that captured the spirit of the day. 

The elementary choir ended the presentation with a song, written by a Texas Wesleyan student, that earned a standing ovation from the crowd. Their happy harmonies showed what the event was all about—bringing together music, culture and education across generations. 

At the end of the recital, Araújo thanked the faculty and students who helped mentor the young singers. She also stressed how working together with local schools and university students strengthens both artistic and educational ties.