The Salvadorian directors of Mariachi Los Románticos left El Salvador in 1987, searching for a better life. On arrival to our shores, brothers Willíam and Julio with their father José, began to recreate their musical identity and play the Mariachi music of their homeland. Their songs embody the essence of México, telling stories of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
William, Brother Julio and their father Jose Martinez left El Salvador in 1987, searching for a better life. On arrival to Australia shores.
At the age of 15 William began singing and playing guitar at Melbourne Spanish Catholic Church. Brothers Julio and William with their father José began to recreate their musical identity and play the Mariachi music of their homeland. Their songs embody the essence of México, telling stories of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
During this musical journal William has received private music lesson particular with Maestro Joe Paparone (music arranger).
His dedication to mariachi music has been his passion and successfully manages the Mariachi band.
Julio is one of the Directors of Mariachi Los Romanticos mexican bass (Guitarron) player which is the heart of the mariachi band. Currently living in Prahan originally from el salvador but have been living in melbourne since 1987. Completed a foundation in music studies to develop understanding and enhance skill in the music industry. Completed a music diploma at Victoria university.
Continuing music studies with private tutoring with Jonathan Zion Composer Bass player. And attended Music classes with Maestro Joe Paparone Guitarist Music Arranger.
International trumpet player with performance experience in Cuba, Singapore and Australia. Teaching experience with primary and secondary students, including private tuition and conducting ensembles. Proficient in music composition and arrangement. High level of skills in Flugelhorn, Valve Trombone, Piano and Percussion instruments. Highly organised and able to teach all styles of music. Studying trumpet from the age of 7, Lazaro has developed an extensive range of trumpet playing skills as well as a deep passion for the instrument. He has also studied piano alongside the trumpet and has achieved a high level in this instrument. Lazaro has over 8 years’ experience performing in national orchestras, latin and jazz bands in multiple countries giving him strong performance experience and the ability to adapt to various ensemble styles and sizes. Alongside his professional playing experience, Lazaro teaches the trumpet and is committed to sharing and passing on his skills with the next generation of musicians and music lovers. Lazaro is skilled in music composition and arrangement, complimenting his teaching and conducting abilities.
Education - Amadeo Roldan Conservatory, Havana Cuba
Degree of Instrumentalist – Professor of Trumpet and Ensemble or Pop Group Practice
Key Achievements:
- Achieved perfect scores in final year for trumpet performance and final examination.
- Completed full Arban, Herbert L. Clarke and Charles Colin methods.
- Selected to play in the Amadeo Roldan Youth Symphony Orchestra, performing at ballet festivals and operas.
Valid Working with Children Check held.
My family immigrated to Australia from Bolivia in the early 70's, I was raised in Sydney. I began performing at age 14 and joined Los Quechuas, a band recognised as the foremost exponents of Bolivian Andean folk music at the time in Australia.At 18, I moved to Bolivia for the purposes of furthering my musical training and experience.
It was at this time that I reinforced my formative experience and honed my skills by immersing myself in the music scene immediately.1987- we toured Canada for one month with Grupo Surcos.1988- I was back in Australia and formed the band Ukamau and we toured Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne as the support for Bolivian band Rumillajta, and other international bands.1989. In addition I lead the band at its performance at the Shell International Folk Festival held at the Opera House.
In 1990 I moved to Melbourne and founded the band Bolivia Marka. We recorded our first CD, Poesia Andina,Andean band based in Melbourne) as the musical director on their popular recording Colours of Tunari.In 1991 Bolivia Marka was engaged to tour Japan for two months. I was involved with some important recording “ Andean jazz album entitled Coffee Lands,” jazz flautist Dave Valentin”, and Orquesta de la Luz. During my ten years in Japan I was involved in numerous recordings, tours of Asia, I conducted ongoing workshops.
Sophie Dunn studied classical violin at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School with Miwako Abe and Jane Hazelwood, before beginning work as a freelance violinist over ten years ago. Since then Sophie has worked in a diverse range of styles including improvisation, contemporary classical and folk music, performing with artists such as DJ Suspect, two4k, Kate Vigo and the Melbourne Underground Orchestra, Yana Alana, Ronny Ferella, Wes Snelling and Andy Baylor’s Banksias Band.
Sophie has worked on several collaborative projects combining music with theatre, circus and film, performing with Westside Circus, VCA Animateurs, A is for Atlas, the Oculus String Quartet, whose project Subsonic combined original compositions played live to footage taken in Antarctica, and her own ensemble Silent Box (Falls Festival 2005-2010). Sophie has also recorded with several Melbourne artists including hip-hop band TZU (Position Correction 2004), Ned Collette (Future Suture 2007) and Andy Baylor (Possum Stole a Pumpkin 2009).
Sophie has performed with several classical ensembles including the contemporary classical Arcko Symphonic Project, the Tasmanian Discovery Orchestra conducted by Luke Dollman and Fabian Russell, including their recent performance at the Musuem of Old and New Art in Tasmania, and the Melbourne Star Chorale Orchestra directed by Jane Elton Brown. Sophie performs regularly with Melbourne mariachi band Los Romanticos and the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra, including their 2013-14 tour of the People’s Republic of China. Other recent performances include the Blue Grassy Knoll with the Australian Silent Filmscore Orchestra’s performance of Buster Keaton’s film The General at the Melbourne Recital Centre.
Matt Westwood is a Melbourne based violinist, pianist and composer. At age 16 he earned his Associated Diploma in violin from the AMEB, and upon completing Year 12, was accepted into The University of Melbourne where he studied Violin and Composition, graduating with Honours in 2014.
Matt Westwood has played everything from baroque violin, to punk-rock electric violin, and now plays Mariachi regularly with Los Romanticos.
Timothy enjoys a healthy commercial performance career in Melbourne while studying his Master of Music at the University of Melbourne. As well as regularly performing in Melbourne’s most renowned concert venues, nightclubs, music theatres church halls, bars and sport stadiums, Timothy has performed live on ABC Classic FM, 3AW, SEN, Mix 101.1, Channels 7, 9, 10, 31, ABC and SBS. Timothy travels often, having performed in Adelaide, Sydney, Canberra, Lauceston and Hobart, as well as San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles in the US, Calgary in Canada, and Manchester and Lancaster in the UK.
Timothy’s compositions have been recorded and broadcast on ABC Classic FM, and he has been commissioned to compose and perform works for the Victorian Premier, Chief Commissioner of Police, Lord Mayor, and recently the 2013 Australian Open Women’s Final.
Timothy frequently serves through his music ministry, both as a solo artist, and as a member of worship teams in Baptist churches all over Melbourne. Timothy regularly performs at the Belgrave Heights Convention, and has just recorded his first worship album with City On A Hill. In his spare time, Timothy is a passionate fan of Musical Theatre, film scores, and the Essendon Football Club, and played Back Pocket in the Reclink Premiership winning team of 2013.
Ernesto’s musical influence began from when he grew beside his father and mother. His father at the time played the harmonica and invited him to sing beside him. His mother was an Opera soprano vocalist and would invite Ernesto to come to view many of her presentations in ‘El teatro National de El Salvador’ (The National Theatre of El Salvador).
Professional Singer, Guitarist and percussionist from El Salvador. Ernesto began to explore his musical abilities at the age of 10 by attending the ‘Conservatorio National de Musica’ (National Conservatory of Music) to study vocals and was also involved in a choir setting.
At the age of 16 he learned to play the guitar and when he was 24 he joined a band called ‘Grupo Fuego’ playing music from the 60’s and 70’s as a main vocalist. Performances with this band occurred in well-known exclusive bar restaurant places in El Salvador such as Super Frias (located in Paseo General Escalon) and El Alazan (located in Colonia Miramonte).
Ernesto migrated to Australia in 1991, within that year he joined a Latin American band called ‘Grupo Amigos’ performing cumbia and merengue rhythms as a main vocalist. Then from 1994 he joined another Latin American Band called ‘Tropical Dreams’ performing main vocals to rhythms of salsa, cumbia and merengue.
Also continuing main vocals in 1997 with a new band called ‘Cacique’, Ernesto performed rhythms of salsa, cumbia, merengue and cha-cha-cha at exclusive venues such as Babalu bar restaurant at Sofitel Hotel on Collins street Melbourne for 5 years.
Currently Ernesto is a main vocalist and guitar player with his band called ‘Voces Torogoz’ playing traditional Latin American rhythms such as boleros, ballads, rancheras, rumba flamenco and cumbia. Ernesto also loves to sing and perform with ‘Los Romanticos’ which are the only well-known mariachi band in Melbourne playing Mariachi Mexican rhythms.
