'Very inspiring': Stockton Chorale to kick off season with special guest Mariachi Bonitas

Members of the Mariachi Bonitas band perform at the Lodi Arts Commission's 10th annual Taco Truck Cook Off at Hale Park in Lodi.
Members of the Mariachi Bonitas band perform at the Lodi Arts Commission's 10th annual Taco Truck Cook Off at Hale Park in Lodi.

“Varied, soulful and historic.”

Those are the words that Mark Calonico, vice president of the Stockton Chorale, used to describe the first and upcoming concert of the 71st season.

Sunday's concert “The Sights and Sounds of Mexico" is a celebration of Mexican culture.

“I think it will be very inspiring ... I think it will really suit people's hearts because some of the music has such a beautiful message to it,” Calonico said.

This concert also represents efforts to be more inclusive with the Latino community, he said.

Members of the Mariachi Bonitas band perform at the Lodi Arts Commission's 10th annual Taco Truck Cook Off at Hale Park in Lodi.
Members of the Mariachi Bonitas band perform at the Lodi Arts Commission's 10th annual Taco Truck Cook Off at Hale Park in Lodi.

The Stockton Chorale, Master Chorale, Stockton Youth Chorale, and the Valley Youth A Cappella will all be part of the show.

“The October concert over the past several years has always been something slightly out of the ordinary,” Calonico said.

This is the first concert of four concerts planned for the season. The other three concerts will be in December, March, and May.

Bruce Southard conducts Ian Kirk and the Stockton Chorale in preparation for this weekend’s concert featuring the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams. [GLENN PILLSBURY/STOCKTON CHORALE]
Bruce Southard conducts Ian Kirk and the Stockton Chorale in preparation for this weekend’s concert featuring the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams. [GLENN PILLSBURY/STOCKTON CHORALE]

This concert's special guest is the Northern California all-female mariachi group Mariachi Bonitas de Dinorah Klingler. A concert sponsored by Dignity Dental Practice.

“Mariachi Bonitas really stood out because of what they stand for and being an all-female group,” said Bruce Southard, Artistic Director of the Stockton Chorale and Director of Choral Activities at San Joaquin Delta College. “And they've gotten some national recognition with The Kelly Clarkson Show, and just really are doing great things in our regions. (We) wanted to incorporate them into our program."

Southard describes this upcoming concert to be “fun, eclectic and hopefully engaging.”

“Sharing the stage with a mariachi group that is something that in the time that I've been with the chorale we've never done before,” Calonico said.

Tickets can be purchased online or in person at the San Joaquin Delta College Box office during office hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The Box office opens two hours prior to a performance and remains open through the first thirty minutes of the performance.

The Stockton Youth Chorale sings the national anthem at the start of the Stockton Ports' home opener against the Modesto Nuts at the Stockton Ballpark in downtown Stockton on Tuesday, April 12. 2022.
The Stockton Youth Chorale sings the national anthem at the start of the Stockton Ports' home opener against the Modesto Nuts at the Stockton Ballpark in downtown Stockton on Tuesday, April 12. 2022.

If you go 

When: 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23   

Where: Atherton Auditorium at San Joaquin Delta College, 5151 Pacific Ave, Stockton   

Admission: $20 Adults, Free for students with ID and children 

Information: mpv.tickets.com

Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow

This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton Chorale opens season with 'Sights and Sounds of Mexico'