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Editor’s take note: This tale is section of a series of profiles of notable fall 2021 graduates.
Angie Stephanie Valencia, who graduates this December with a Bachelor of New music in audio discovering and instructing, and a slight in transborder Chicana/o and Latina/o scientific studies, is passionate about producing and implementing mariachi curriculum in Arizona K–12 faculties and in larger schooling. 

Angie Stephanie Valencia
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Valencia stated when she found out there was a lack of new music education and learning for mariachi educators, she resolved to research music to study more about how to fill that gap.
“Most of the mariachi academics that are in school rooms are astounding musicians who have a lot of yrs of working experience doing mariachi, and some could have even examined new music, but most do not analyze education and find out how to train,” Valencia mentioned.
Valencia also believes that new music instruction need to be obtainable to all, unbiased of socioeconomic position.
Each and every summer months considering that she graduated large faculty, Valencia has taught at Davis Elementary School’s mariachi camp in Tucson, Arizona. She currently plays violin in the area Mariachi Tierra Azteca.
Valencia scientific tests violin at ASU less than Danwen Jiang, professor of violin in the School of New music, Dance and Theatre
She stated 1 of her proudest achievements all through her time at ASU is remaining a receiver of the Resourceful Constellation Grant from the Herberger Institute. The funding authorized her to collaborate on “La Raza: The New music of Our People,” her senior undertaking recital highlighting Latino musicians and composers. Valencia and her co-creator and good friend Jesus Lopez reported when they utilized for the grant, they did not know the function would be virtual thanks to the pandemic. They worked in the course of the semester on the recital and have been in a position to make modifications to share their music as a result of a are living streamed overall performance.
In addition to the Inventive Constellation Grant, she was a receiver of the New American University scholarship for 4 several years and the Margaret T. Morris scholarship for two yrs.
All through her studies at ASU, Valencia has been a violin teacher with the Faculty of Music, Dance and Theatre’s String Undertaking, a method that provides small-charge, superior-high-quality instruction on orchestral stringed instruments to K–12 learners. She also dedicates her Saturday mornings to college student instructing courses in hopes of bettering herself as a long run educator.
“Angie’s motivation to share her tunes with some others was the explanation she was nominated as an Exceptional Graduate for Local community Engagement in the Herberger Institute for Design in the Arts,” mentioned Margaret Schmidt, professor in the College of Audio, Dance and Theatre and founding director of the ASU String Venture. “She has been training in the ASU String Undertaking since her freshman year, and her pupils are often motivated by her enthusiasm to assist them share her like of participating in string instruments. I know she will go on as a inventive mentor and role design for the pupils in her new position.”
Question: What was your “aha” minute when you realized you wanted to study songs schooling?
Remedy: When I was in superior college, I was fortunate plenty of to go to Tucson Large Magnet College, which had an astounding high-quality arts method. I was enrolled in four new music classes in my senior calendar year: orchestra, chamber ensemble, mariachi and AP songs theory. When I enrolled for all those courses, I made a decision that I would research tunes. I know now that even if I hadn’t researched tunes, what I discovered in people classes and the experiences it delivered me with were being so precious. They shaped who I was as a person and made memories that would past my lifetime.
A further defining minute was when I joined Mariachi Rayos Del Sol my junior yr of superior school. I experienced a little management posture in the group and would operate violin sectionals. I seriously enjoyed becoming equipped to support my fellow violinists discover our pieces.
Q: What is one thing you acquired although at ASU — in the classroom or normally — that amazed you or changed your point of view?
A: I discovered to be curious and that there is so significantly possibility and creativity in the world. There is no a single way that new music schooling appears like. I also discovered how gorgeous the arts are. Getting a section of the Herberger Institute allowed me the option to see unique artwork mediums and other artists at work. It was insightful to hear many others discuss about their triumphs and struggles within just their own innovative industry.
Q: Why did you pick ASU?
A: Picking ASU was the easiest and most challenging choice I experienced probably at any time manufactured up to that stage in my existence. Just after auditioning and remaining admitted into all three state universities, there were being a several items that led up to my choice to examine at ASU. When I was in higher faculty, I experienced two chances to visit ASU’s University of New music (prior to it getting to be the School of Tunes, Dance and Theatre). 1 was with the Tetra String Quartet residency when my quartet was capable to do a workshop/masterclass with them. The other was Violin 360 when I attended a workshop with Professor Danwen Jiang, who I finished up finding out with. All those encounters ended up the two enjoyable and important as a musician. But my most important inspiration for selecting ASU was my significant university orchestra teacher Cayce Miners, who is an alumna of ASU and spoke extremely really of the music education plan.
Q: Which professor taught you the most essential lesson while at ASU?
A: Professor Matthew Fiorentino, who I was taking Art of Teaching Innovative Instrumentalists with during spring 2020, during the beginning of the pandemic, taught me that no make any difference what else is occurring there is constantly time to end and examine in with your pupils. We started out the semester by always executing early morning stretches, and when things moved on the web, we continued with that routine. I believe that all through those people unprecedented moments and it’s possible even without having recognizing, he taught me by way of instance how to be resilient and ready to adapt as an educator, all the even though however working to inspire pupils.
Q: What’s the most effective piece of assistance you’d give to people nevertheless in college?
A: The most effective information I would give to recent pupils is the information Professor Danwen Jiang gave to me: Even though you are a university student, consider advantage of the sources ASU gives. When you are a scholar, the campus and ASU are there to serve you. Understand and explore what pursuits you can and invest your time and energy there. Once you graduate in instruction, then it is your flip to give back. But when you are a college student, it is your time to be selfish and take in as substantially as you can.
Q: What was your favored spot on campus, irrespective of whether for studying, meeting close friends or just pondering about daily life?
A: My most loved position on campus has to be the New music Building courtyard. I like to sit there soon after morning courses and let my mind absorb the conversations we just experienced in course. The ambiance of the courtyard is so calming with the very trees, rose bushes and seem of the fountain. It also comes alive all through Tunes at Noon, and it is really good to see all people smiling and savoring songs and each individual other’s company. The folks that gather in the courtyard are a charming supportive team of people.
Q: What are your ideas immediately after graduation?
A: In January I will be heading again to my alma mater, Tucson Significant Magnet School, as a co-director of the orchestra system together with Cayce Miners. It seriously is the dream job I hardly ever assumed would transpire right out of faculty.
Q: If a person gave you $40 million to clear up just one challenge on our earth, what would you tackle?
A: I have constantly claimed that instruction is a lottery, substantially like lifestyle. Some of us are blessed possibly by circumstance of where we are and what we are born into. I imagine there is so a lot room for fairness and inclusion in training, but also for consistent and constant enhancement.