Group to take musical stroll of San Benito

SAN BENITO - A group of about 20 young musicians will parade through historical streets tonight for a callejoneada, a musical stroll.

The group, known as Estudiantina Guadalupana Potosina de San Luis Potosi, Mexico, arrived Tuesday evening. The International Good Neighbor Council of San Benito brought them here, chapter president Ignacio Aguirre said.

The callejoneada, Aguirre said, is an event that is traditionally done in colonial Mexican towns like San Luis Potosi and Guanajuato, among others.

"The Estudiantina lead people that come to visit," he said.

People were led through historical streets. Callejón is a Spanish word for alley, Aguirre said, adding that many of the processions were led through alleys.

The group will perform at the 6 p.m. Mass at St. Benedict's Catholic Church. The callejoneada will begin after the Mass is celebrated, Aguirre said.

"There will be a procession on Fannin Street near the Azteca building and down Robertson Street," he said.

The callejoneada ends at the Veterans Memorial Pavilion along Sam Houston Boulevard. The Estudiantina will perform for the public at 7:30 p.m. after they arrive.

During the day, the musicians will have a cultural exchange with San Benito High School musicians.

"The band will be their mentors while they're there and they will perform for the students," Aguirre said.

The Estudiantina's visit, which has been made annually for about three years, serves two great purposes, Aguirre said.

"It's a cultural exchange for the students and it's sort of like honoring the historical district of San Benito," he said.

Estudiantina Guadalupana Potosina de San Luis Potosi has performed all over Mexico and also in Fort Worth.

"It's a unique group," Aguirre said.