Elisa Gastellum Scholarship Endowment Fund

Elisa Gastellum performed in the 2005 LCIMC Showcase Concert and then she won as runner-up in the Tercer Festival de Mariachi contest taped at Walt Disney World and broadcast on Univision. Elisa’s faith, joyful spirit and grace helped her to fulfill a very special dream.

Tragedy struck when Elisa was killed in an automobile accident on February 24, 2006. She was 18 years old. Elisa’s voice was a precious gift from God and she will forever be an inspiration and an example of what is possible when you are divinely blessed.

Since Elisa’s death, the Las Cruces International Mariachi Conference established The Elisa Gastellum Mariachi Scholarship Endowment Fund. A college scholarship will be awarded every year at the Las Cruces International Mariachi Conference. Vocalists selected by the audition process may apply for the annual scholarship. One of the five vocalists will be awarded the college scholarship.

The memory of Elisa Gastellum will always live through this scholarship fund. Touching other young people who have the love and passion of singing Mariachi music as Elisa did.

Now she is singing with the choir of angels in Heaven.

If you would like to donate to the Elisa Gastellum Scholarship Endowment Fund, please contact us.

 

2008 Elisa Gastellum Memorial Scholarship recipient, Salvador Hernandez.
Salvador Hernandez III is a humble 21 year old who loves to perform mariachi music. He has been singing alongside his father since he was 10 years old and he loves every minute of it. He recently was fortunate enough to record his first album with his dad entitled "Siempre Juntos." Salvador is a talented musician who enjoys playing guitar, trumpet in a cumbia band, congas/percussion in a trio, and of course singing mariachi music with his dad. Salvador is a nursing student at New Mexico State University and someday dreams to become a family nurse practitioner. Family is the most important thing to Salvador and he feels that their love and support is what made him who he is today!

 

 

 

2008 Elisa Gastellum Memorial Scholarship recipient, Liz Licon
Liz Licon is a 21 year old native of Las Cruces, NM. She is a junior at New Mexico State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She has been singing Mariachi music since the age of six, when she sang "De Colores" for a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at her elementary school. She has won numerous vocal competitions, and she is looking forward to her next challenge. She aspires to be a professional Mariachi singer. Several people have inspired her to continue with her dream. She believes her dad was her biggest influence, and that thanks to her parents she has accomplished so many of her goals.

 

 

 

2007 Elisa Gastellum Memorial Scholarship recipient, Melissa Rios
Melissa Rios has been performing mariachi music since she was 11 years old. She has been writing her own songs since she was 7 years old; her song, “Remember Me” was selected to be a part of an acoustic compilation released in February 2008. She has also performed at various functions around the city such as “Hilarity for Charity,” a benefit concert for The Children’s Garden and every year for her church fiesta at Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church. Melissa plans to attend University of Texas Pan American in the fall of 2009 and study Forensic Science and Music Performance, concentrating on Vocal Performance. Her biggest dream is to mainstream her original compositions and continue bringing her music to the world. The LCIMC Board of Directors and Planning Committee wish you the best of luck, Melissa!

 

 

2006 Elisa Gastellum Memorial Scholarship recipient, Alberto Rangel
Alberto Rangel has earned a Bachelor of Music with a major in Vocal Performance from the University of Arizona in 2005.He is currently obtaining his teaching certification in Music and Engish from Pima Community College and will have completed his requirements by May 2008. Alberto plans to attend graduate school to study either Choral Conducting or Music Theory, and in the meantime wishes to continue performing mariachi, choral, and tejano music, as well as writing and arranging music for a wide variety of venues and genres.