DALLAS — This might be the final week of Hispanic Heritage Month, but a group of students led by an enthusiastic teacher in North Texas are making sure celebrating Mexican culture is done all year.
Members of Irving ISD’s mariachi program have been performing at local elementary schools this month. Their goal is to share the art of mariachi music, one performance at a time.
The woman behind the music is Travis Middle School’s orchestra and mariachi director Nadia Eimandoust, or as her musicians know her, Ms. E.
According to her students, Eimandoust is the kind of teacher whose passion for her job is contagious.
“You can tell she really loves what she does,” said ninth-grade mariachi student Alexandra Ronco. “She helps get us excited about performing.”
A graduate of the University of North Texas’ prestigious music program, her love for music was sparked in fifth grade when she joined orchestra.
Eimandoust is a fan of YouTube-made violinist Lindsey Stirling and shares Stirling’s passion for making the stings come alive through an energetic performance style.
As a classically trained violinist herself she enjoys playing her 100-year-old acoustic violin for the song covers she posts on YouTube.
As a mariachi teacher, Eimandoust gets mistaken for Mexican often, and although she loves the culture, she’s not Mexican.
“People like to call me an honorary Hispanic,” said Eimandoust. “I’m not Hispanic by birth, but I am very much immured in Mexican culture because I live in Texas.”
Born and raised in North Texas, Eimandoust learned to love her Iranian culture.
“Growing up it meant a lot to me,” she said. “Some of my fondest memories are with family doing events that are part of the Persian culture.”
While studying at UNT, a college friend asked Eimandoust a question that would impact her life as a musician.
“She asked if I wanted to join a mariachi group, professionally for money, because I needed a job,” she said. “I decided to take her up on the offer, and here I am almost 10 years later.”
Over the years Eimandoust has immersed herself with mariachi culture by performing professionally with different groups.
She’s perfected her mariachi skills performing as a singer and violinist for groups including UNT’s Mariachi Aguilas, Mariachi Los Gavilanes, Mariachi Voces de Mexico Dallas and Mariachi Mexico.
Eimandoust feels honored to give her students the same musical opportunities she got as a student.
“Offering music in schools allows students to be a part of a team and learn a skill that can transfer into the real world,” she said. “Students become passionate about their creative outlet and form a family.”
Like her, some of Eimandoust’s mariachi students aren’t Mexican but have fallen in love with the art form. She’s proud to give them the opportunity to connect with Texas’ rich Mexican culture.
While studying at Travis Middle School Ronco said she was positively impacted by being a part of the family atmosphere Eimandoust has fostered.
“Being a part of the band has been great for my confidence,” said Ronco. “Music can help other students gain confidence and it gives them an activity to be a part of in school. Learning music is very fun.”
As an educator Eimandoust’s desire is to give musicians like Ronco the confidence to achieve their goals, whatever they may be.
“They get to feel kind of like celebrities when they go and perform," she said. “Seeing them mature as artists has been so rewarding.”
Eimandoust shares the latest news about Travis Middle School’s mariachi group along with videos and pictures of her students' performances on Facebook and Instagram.
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