Hugo Macario, an accomplished educator, performer of Latin fusion music genres, and longtime Santa Barbara resident, died unexpectedly on May 9. Hugo’s generous and warm-hearted presence will be sorely missed.
Although I had known Hugo for a few years when he performed in Ensamble Vientos del Sur (Winds of the South Ensemble), it was only in June 2019 that Hugo and I discovered our deep, shared connection to one very tiny and specific place in Mexico: the Island of Jarácuaro.
Hugo’s family is from the Island of Járacuaro, Lake Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, part of a region with a remarkable legacy of teachers, teacher training, and vibrant musical and cultural practices. Significantly, it has been the home of P’urhépecha peoples for many centuries.