PHOTOS: La Santa Cecilia enlivens Berkeley’s UC Theatre for Día de Muertos celebration

For Día de Muertos, La Santa Cecilia graced Berkeley’s UC Theatre with their GRAMMY-award winning music catalog. Led by Marisol “La Marisoul” Hernandez, the bicultural group from Los Angeles performed their diverse sound, blending modern sensibilities with an array of traditional notes. Hernandez spoke in between songs with fans handing her flowers — acknowledging those who have crossed over and who we still carry with us. Music is a beautiful vehicle for grief. That is something La Santa Cecilia has made space for through seven studio albums. It’s been eight years since La Santa Cecilia hit NPR’s star-making and affirming Tiny Desk series, and their cultural importance continues in their advocacy for undocumented immigrants, environmentalism, and providing a unifying experience on a day like Día de Muertos. All photos by D.A. Mission