Carnegie Hall

Quetzal is a relentlessly innovative Grammy Award–winning ensemble that narrates the social, cultural, and political stories of humanity. Quetzal’s live shows are filled with moments of tenderness, fervor, and vivid storytelling that transport audiences into a world of affirmation and belonging. For 30 years, Quetzal has graced stages across the US, Canada, Asia, and Mexico. The Smithsonian Institution’s exhibit American Sabor: Latinos in US Popular Music featured the ensemble members as leaders and innovators of Chicano music.

Quetzal emerged out of a contentious moment in Los Angeles history. The 1992 Los Angeles uprising along with efforts in opposition to Proposition 187 (which denied medical and public services to undocumented immigrants and public education to undocumented children) were prominent catalysts. Today, Quetzal’s strategy is to be regenerative and resourceful in the face of adversity. Remaining active within the community, the members have implemented collective songwriting and traditional music pedagogy in a variety of settings across California, Arizona, and Washington. For Quetzal, music is a resource that lives at the essence of community, cultural vitality, and transformation. As an enduring and prominent force in the East LA soundscape, the ensemble continues to model how music, culture, and sociopolitical ideology come together on and off the stage.

La Santa Cecilia is a Mexican American band founded in 2007 in Los Angeles, whose musical influences are found in genres such as bolero, folk, cumbia, ranchero, norteño, and jazz, among others. Formed by La Marisoul (vocals), Pepe Carlos (guitar and accordion), Alex Bendaña (bass), and Miguel Ramírez (percussion), the ensemble members’ combined talents have led them to win a Grammy Award in 2014. With more than 100 performances throughout 2023 and 2024, La Santa Cecilia has gained recognition by participating in international festivals, including the Festival Internacional Cervantino in 2016 and 2023, as well as important festivals in Mexico such as Tecate Pal Norte and Vive Latino. In addition to performing in celebrated venues across the US and Mexico, La Santa Cecilia has toured in other countries such as Spain and Brazil, spreading their musical culture to other cultures.