Biography

Lorenzo Trujillo is a highly respected figure in the world of Southwestern music and culture, known for his lifelong dedication to preserving and promoting the rich traditions of folk music, dance, and arts. As the Director of the Southwest Musicians and the Artistic Director of the MSU Denver Mariachi Program, Dr. Trujillo has shaped the cultural landscape of the region for over six decades.

A folk violinist, guitarist, vocalist, and accomplished ethnic dancer, Trujillo’s contributions to the arts have earned him recognition on both national and international stages. In 1996, he was honored with the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, a testament to his exceptional talent and tireless work in cultural preservation. His career has spanned a variety of roles, from arts administrator to folklorist and culture bearer, and he has had a profound impact on the traditional music and dance of Southern Colorado and New Mexico.

Dr. Trujillo's achievements include working with the National Endowment for the Arts as a performing artist in 1976 and receiving the Hilos Culturales Distinguished Traditional Folk Artist Premio in 2004 for his lifetime of service to Hispanic traditions. His extensive body of work includes thousands of concerts, lecture demonstrations, and publications that document and celebrate the cultural heritage of the Southwest United States.

Over the years, Dr. Trujillo has become a respected voice in traditional music, recording extensively for television, radio, and numerous CDs. His most popular album, The Golden Age of the Southwest: From 1840 to Hollywood, showcases his deep knowledge of regional history and music. He has also had the privilege of performing internationally, with concert tours taking him to Italy, Peru, and Baja California, Mexico.

In recognition of his contributions to the arts, Dr. Trujillo has received several prestigious awards, including induction into the Colorado Chicano Music Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Tesoro Cultural Center’s Tesoro de Oro Award in 2011. His work continues to inspire new generations of artists and musicians, and his dedication to cultural heritage remains a cornerstone of his legacy.

Hilos Cuturales

Awards

Lorenzo Trujillo Tesoro Award

This Award, presented by the Tesoro Cultural Center at the 2011 Spanish Colonial Market and 1830's Rendezvous, is for lifetime passion on keeping the west alive and recognizing commitment to excellence, historical interpretation and craftsmanship

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Lorenzo Trujillo Governor's Award

Governor's Award For Excellence In The Arts - 1996

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Lorenzo Trujillo Governor's Award

Governor's Award For Excellence In The Arts - 1996

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Mariachi Spectacular

Mariachi Spectacular 2001 - Showcase Concert

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Premio Hilos Culturales

Premio Hilos Culturales - Distinguished Traditional Folk Artist - 2004

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Premio Hilos Culturales

Premio Hilos Culturales - Traditional Folk Artist Award - In recognition of lifetime contributions to Spanish Colonial Folk Music and Dance of Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado - 2004

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Tesoro Farolito Lighting

The Tesoro Foundation - Farolito Lighting - 2004

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Chicano Music Hall of Fame

Chicano Music Hall of Fame - Musica de Colorado - 2009

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Flor Y Canto Award

Flor Y Canto Champions of Change Humanitarian Award - Escuela Tlatelolco - 2011

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Chicano Humanities and Arts Council Award

CHAC (Chicano Humanities and Arts Council) Life Work Achievement Award

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Commendation from Italy Concert Tour

Commendation Certificate from 2012 Concert Tour in Italy including St. Peter's at the Vatican and San Paolo alla Regola in Rome

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Colorado Music Educator's Award

Colorado Music Educators Award - 2017

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Appointment as Director of Hispanic Sacred Music

Appointment as the Director of Hispanic Sacred Music at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, 2016

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Music

The Golden Age of the Southwest

The Golden Age of the Southwest:
From 1840 to Hollywood

Featuring Lorenzo A. Trujillo, with cousins and friends

Order online here:

  

Also available locally in Denver at:
CHAC Gallery, 772 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204.

A Musical Banquet

A Musical Banquet,
From Santa Fe to Denver

Featuring Lorenzo A. Trujillo, with cousins and friends

This CD represents the music of Colorado and New Mexico based on classics from folk traditions. Some of the selected pieces date back to the 1840’s during the trapper period in the Southwest when Colorado and New Mexico were first being settled and other selections are more contemporary. The two artists join forces to create an exciting new rendition of these pieces representing the past to the present with a unique and authentic sound.

Order a copy from CDBaby here:



Amor
Mujer
Valse de la Grandma
Tennessee Waltz
Anniversary Song
Ana

Southwest Musicians

Southwest Musicians

Twenty traditional pieces from the old time music of Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico presented on violin, guitar, guitarron and vocals. Truly a treasure for the collector of the music of the Rio Grande of 1840 to today.

Order a copy from CDBaby here:



La Varsovianna
Valse de los Paños
La Comancha
Son Los Años
Valse Taoseño
Valse Apasionado

Videos

¡Mariachis Correcaminos en Denver!

Noticias Colorado feature

Photos

Mariachi Festival 2020

Mariachi Festival 2020

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Mariachi Festival 2020

Mariachi Festival 2020

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Mariachi at Boettcher

Mariachi at Boettcher

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Mariachi at the Paramount

Mariachi at the Paramount

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Mariachi at Boettcher

Mariachi at the Paramount

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Mariachi at the Paramount

Mariachi at the Paramount

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Mariachi at the Paramount

Mariachi at the Paramount

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Mariachi at Boettcher 2

Mariachi at Boettcher

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Lorenzo Trujillo on Violin

Photo Credit Marc Dalio 2016 - Used with permission from photographer

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Mariachi on Boettcher Stage

Mariachi at Boettcher

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Reynolds Ranch
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Singing at a Festival
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Festival Music
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with Angel Vigil

Angel Vigil Concert

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Staging a Wedding
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Peforming in Peru

In Peru

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Teaching in Peru

In Peru

Teaching

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Playing in a cabin
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Latino Fest

Latino Fest

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Fandango at Tesoro

Fandango

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Fandango

Fandango

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Arroyo Seco Parade

Arroyo Seco

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Arroyo Seco
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Hilos Culturales

Hilos Culturales

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Taos performance

In Taos

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Tesoro Cultural Center

Tesoro Cultural Center

at The Fort

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Tesoro Dancing

Tesoro Cultural Center

at The Fort

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Southwest Musicians

Tesoro Cultural Center

at The Fort

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Tesoro at The Fort

Tesoro Cultural Center

at The Fort

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Lorenzo at The Fort
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Peforming at Tesoro

Tesoro Cultural Center

at The Fort

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Mariachi under the Trees
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Univision Colorado

Univision

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Duo
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Articles

Music and the Arts

Lorenzo on stage

Dr. Lorenzo Trujillo – Taking Mariachi Music to New Heights

El Alba Magazine, June, 2018

“Lorenzo Trujillo loved music from an early age, inspired by his Aunt Eva Nuánez, celebrated Denver Songstress…”

Read the article here

A Journey in Time – A Story about Dr. Lorenzo A. Trujillo

Colorado Hispanic Genealogist, December, 2017
The Journal of the Colorado Society of Hispanic Genealogy

“Living History from a Genealogy Foundation”

Read the article here

El Triple Compromiso De Lorenzo Trujillo

CASA Magazine, May 2017

“El conocido abogado Lorenzo Trujillo fue premiado por la Colorado Hispanic Bar Association (CHBA) en su gala del 2017… ”

See the full article in Casa Magazine

Metro State student musicians to fill void of mariachi teachers in Colorado
Metro State program seeks to share Mexican culture through mariachi performances

By Elizabeth Hernandez, June 13, 2016

“As you ascend the building’s stairs, the violins, guitars, vihuela and guitarron come into earshot. Then the powerful voices of the Metro State mariachi ensemble are booming through the music room’s doors … ”

See the article in the Denver Post

Mariachi culture takes centerstage



By Teresa Diaz Soriano, November 4, 2016

“Since the fall of 2015, the sweet sounds of mariachi can be heard coming from room 293 in the Arts Building every Friday. The music course Mariachi Ensemble is offered at MSU Denver for academic credit …”

See the full text in Met Media

Marketing

Marketing: An Organizational Approach

By Lorenzo A. Trujillo
September, 1981

The subject of this seminar is "Marketing: An Organizational Approach." Marketing means "to offer for sale" (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 1973). Specifically, I will refer to an organizational approach to marketing.

Before beginning, take a piece of paper and:

  1. Draw yourself
  2. On the upper right hand corner of the paper, write in:
    • your age
    • your occupation
    • what you want most in life (one word)
    • how you feel right now (one word)
Click here for full text

Contact

You can email Lorenzo at

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© Lorenzo Trujillo