Published: July 6, 2015 | Last Modified: July 7, 2015 05:41PM

By Leigh Tauss Record-Journal staff

WALLINGFORD — Fingers leapt nimbly over guitar strings, trumpets blared and voices soared as the Spanish Community of Wallingford headquarters filled with the festive music of mariachi Monday.

Thirty-five children are participating in a weeklong workshop at the center with renowned Las Vegas band Mariachi Mexico Antiguo, which will culminate with a concert Friday night at Sheehan High School.

The workshops will run through Friday from 9 p.m. to 3 p.m. at a cost of $60 per student for the entire week.

Musical Director of Mariachi Mexico Antiguo Adam Romo said the group has been working periodically with the students for the last two years. This is the second year they have offered a full week or workshops. Children participating are as young as age seven and range in musical experience.

“This a great group of kids because you can see that some of them are really advanced, they are learning a lot of songs, they are learning them on their own,” Romo said. “Others we’re kind of helping them on the basics; scales, reading music, learning about the styles of mariachi some of the history of mariachi so that way they can have a better idea of what they are actually learning.”

Mariachi band members took turns working one-on-one with students as well as teaching larger groups complicated songs in Spanish. As practice went on, their voices seemed to lift and the room filled with a joyous energy.

Seventeen-year-old Yazmin Lopez is one of the more advanced students participating in the workshop. She said she enjoys working with the mariachi band.

“It’s very fun and helpful, these are professionals and they help us improve on our skills,” Lopez said.

Fernando Gonzalez, 9, was learning guitarrón for the first time Monday. He said he fell in love with mariachi music because he is Mexican-American and was happy to be learning how to play new instruments.

“It’s really cool being here for the workshop,” Gonzalez said. “I want to be in a mariachi band when I grow up.”

Thirteen-year-old Nalelhi Martinez said working with the mariachi band is intense at times, but well worth the hard work.

“Right now my fingers kind of hurt because of the strings because we are here for six hours, but it’s worth it because you learn the music so well,” Martinez said.

For Lopez, mariachi helps her stay in touch with her roots.

“It reminds me of my culture even though I live very far away and it’s something to help me stay connected with Mexico,” Lopez said.

Mariachi Academy of Connecticut Music Director Evangeline Mendoza-Bourgeois said the purpose of the workshops is to teach the children about the culture.

“The mission of the school is really to encourage the children of this community to know about their heritage and their roots through the music of mariachi.” Mendoza-Bourgeois said.

“We teach them to sing the songs in Spanish and the lyrics all talk about life in Mexico so it gives them a very direct picture.”

Executive Director of SCOW Maria Campos Harlow said it has been great watching the children engage with the music.

“What I love is when the kids get so excited with this music and it makes them proud of who they are.”

The concert will be Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Sheehan High School.

Tickets are $15, and will help fund SCOW’s summer music program.

ltauss@record-journal.com (203) 317-2231 Twitter: @LeighTaussRJ