If only every school could be so lucky as to have their weeknights filled with such color on stage. Seductive trumpet players decked out in black and silver. Women in bright dresses with skirts that twirl for miles, all against the black backdrop of a high school auditorium's curtain.

On top of that, all of it was free. Put on by the Chief Sealth mariachi band in order to raise awareness of the program, the goal is to eventually raise enough money to have a full time mariachi teacher at Denny Middle School.

Debbie Meyers, the music director, is modeling this program after one in California, a district that has 15 schools, with 12 mariachi instructors. This dedication shows in not only the size of the Chula Vista band, which is performing, but also the quality of the music.

The Chula Vista band is huge. Two lead singers are flanked by seven guitars, seven violins, a trumpet and one harp.

Dancers march onto stage. Two women come out in white traditional dresses - each toting two little girls. The children are less graceful than the adults, but they have a playful sincerity about them that endlessly charms.

The students' skills range from just having learned their instrument last month, to playing for many years. The young people focus on their music stands and play intensely, concentrating on hitting the right notes.

The band members take turns singing, and at one point one of the guitar players comes down into the audience, among much whistling and applause, to serenade the audience.

Chief Sealth has its own serenader. History/Spanish teacher Noah Zeichner belts out a big sound for someone with a goatee and hip spectacles. He sings and the entire auditorium (under-populated for the quality of the event) is filled to the brim with his voice.

"This is a cultural bridge for many Latino students," said Zeichner. "Especially because it gives them something to connect to in the high school."

Adds Chula Vista senior Perry Charon, "I like the applause, and I like to make people happy."

Charon, who's been in the program for four years, says that he stays with it because he loves it so much.

Last year the Chula Vista band competed in the first Vancouver Mariachi Competition. They were what made it international, because they were the only band present that wasn't from Canada.

Being one in the audience almost feels like dropping in on someone's wedding. The majority of the audience knows all the words to the songs, and sing-alongs are frequent. Unabashed clapping, whistling, yelling-this could be someone's birthday party.

"We hope that you start to see tonight that mariachi can be an education path that goes all the way from elementary school, to middle school, through to high school, and all the way up to the college level," said Zeichner.

Elizabeth Mortenson is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory and may be contacted via wseditor@robinsonnews.com