It would be hard to imagine anyone in California not having been exposed to Mexican mariachi, norteño, or banda music, but even many Mexican-Americans have not had much opportunity to enjoy the music and dance of the Huastecan region of Mexico. Artemio Posadas, a native of San Luis Potosi, has made it his mission to make as many as possible familiar with the Son Huasteco and all the culture that surrounds it. He learned from master Huastecan musicians who taught at the University of San Luis Potosi. He became skilled on many instruments but especially in playing violin in the Huastecan style and Veracruz harp. Artemio played for village ceremonies, festivals, and music and dance gatherings called "huapangeados." He came to the Bay Area in the 1980s and began teaching and coaching folklorico groups, including Los Lupeños, Xochipilli, and his own group Los Trovadores de la Costa. He continually returned to the Huastecan region of Mexico to conduct more field research and to find musicians to visit the United States.
One of his most loyal students in the last two years has been Nydia Algazzali, who teaches Mexican music and dance at the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts in Richmond and the Berkeley Unified School District. She and Artemio have produced many workshops and events celebrating Huastecan music. Nydia says, "I have been inspired by Artemio and I have learned more from him that anyone. I feel that we work together well, and that together we can have a strong impact on the community and help them in their quest to know their culture, and express themselves."
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