Pueblo -- Colorado Music Fest XI presented by Colorado State University-Pueblo will feature more performances in the community and the premiere of the Southern Colorado Mariachi Fest along with its popular July 4th Extravaganza. Colorado Music Fest XI is a five-week (June 2-July 4) summer series of music camps and concerts coordinated by the CSU-Pueblo Department of Music.

More than 150 children will receive educational instruction and performance opportunities during the Jazz, String, Piano, and Musical Theatre camps and an estimated 30,000 community members will have an opportunity to attend eight concerts at both on and off campus venues (schedule follows). In addition to pre-and post-camp concerts, Music Fest XI will premiere the Southern Colorado Mariachi Fest, a gathering of the region's best mariachi bands for a full-day clinic and concert, and will offer a Children's Concert, as well as a July 4th Extravaganza and Broadway at the Fest performance.

The Chamberlain Foundation will underwrite a Children's Concert by Bonnie Phipps and the Elastic Band on June 5 at the Sangre De Cristo Arts Center. These theatrical musicians create an exciting blend of music, which features Autoharp, bass, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, spoons and percussion plus strong vocal harmonies, www.bonniephipps.com/band.html.

On June 12, the Southern Colorado Mariachi Festival will include a mariachi clinic to students of all ages and musical backgrounds. The clinics will be offered to musicians who have an interest in learning or expanding their individual mariachi musicianship utilizing trumpet, violin, guitar, vihuela, guitarron, and voice. The day-long clinic will be held at CSU-Pueblo at a cost of $35 per person. An evening performance featuring clinicians and students will be held either on B Street or at the State Fair Events Center. The featured clinicians and performers will be Mariachi Tenampa from Albuquerque.

The July 4th Extravaganza is the culminating event of this summer series. The United States Air Force Academy Band will set a patriotic tone before an hour-long fireworks show sponsored by the local Sertoma Club, while the University will coordinate food and beverage vendors for attendees. More than 22,000 people attended last year's Independence Day activities and it remains the only fireworks show in town on this national holiday. This concert is made possible in part by the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado.

Two years instrumental experience is preferred for student camps with the exception of the musical theatre camp. Interested camp participants may download an application at http://www.colostate-pueblo.edu/cmf/PDFs/Application.pdf or call 719-549-2552 for more information.

Complete details on concerts and camps may be obtained by visiting the Music Fest web site at www.colostate-pueblo.edu/cmf or by calling 719-549-2126.

Colorado Music Fest XI, June 2 - July 4, 2004

Colorado State University - Pueblo is a regional, comprehensive university emphasizing professional, career-oriented, and applied programs. Displaying excellence in teaching, celebrating diversity, and engaging in service and outreach, CSU-Pueblo is distinguished by access, opportunity, and the overall quality of services provided to its students.