Musicos Unidos de Latino America - MULA

Phonascus: Teacher of Music
Author: Jean Flores

  David Quintero, Eduardo Quintero, and Allen Aguilar, founded M.U.L.A.  It was in early 2003 when they noticed the need of an organization that inspired music into people, and so they shared their thoughts, beliefs, and music with each other.  Soon they agreed and spoke to the music department of University of California, Riverside (UCR) in order to create an organization, but the task was difficult without the department’s support.  

Still the founders of M.U.L.A continued with their dream of creating a Latin American musical entity, and so they recruited other musicians.  This created a bigger M.U.L.A that went off to perform at various places in which they were kicked out.  Alas, they had the opportunity to perform at parties and other non-professional places such as the beach.  By November 14, 2003, M.U.L.A had their first performance at UCR’s MEChA Bienvenida event that led to a performance at the Barn Café located also at UCR.  Finally, in 2004, M.U.L.A became an official organization at UCR.  

With time and help from courageous people such as the professor of arts, Juan Rios, M.U.L.A was able to bring two members of the band Quetzal and professor Russell of UC Santa Cruz to teach a Jarocho Workshop.  By February and March M.U.L.A had won second place in a Cultural Talent Show and had an unbelievable Jarocho workshop done by El Centro Cultural de Santa Ana.  In April, M.U.L.A did their most outstanding performance ever as guest for Noche Cultural at the California Theater in San Bernardino.  

The success in M.U.L.A only grew, and so they preformed for Discover UCR, an event held yearly to welcome oncoming freshmen to the university.  This opened M.U.L.A’s horizons even more.  M.U.L.A also took the initiative to perform for children on EI Dia de Los Niños.  On May 5^th M.U.L.A faced all of UCR for the Cinco de Mayo Nooner Festival.  Evidently, M.U.L.A had a beginning that led them to their great performances being requested outside of Riverside such as Long Beach, Fontana, Korea Town, and many more.  

On October 13^th, the first all-women M.U.L.A ensemble preformed for their first time the International Women’s Fair.  Reaching their peak of success the founders decided to spread the organization into different ensembles that all created M.U.L.A and so six ensembles were made: the Latin-Jazz, Ska, Guitars, Cumbia, Mariachi, and Women’s Ensemble.  Through this, M.U.L.A showed that M.U.L.A is an organization in which everyone is welcome to join.  

October 16^th, M.U.L.A performs for their first time ever in history on a radio station, XRadio.Biz for the Ms. Hyde Show.  By November, they preformed again in a radio station for Radio Aztlan.  M.U.L.A’s triumphs was well welcomed by the new year of 2005 and gained new members.  

Currently M.U.L.A is one of the most successful organizations on campus that is opening its wings to the enlightenment of music reaching deep into people’s lives.

Send mail to MulaEnsemble@hotmail.com with questions or comments.
Last modified: July 30, 2005