APRIL 17, 2020 — From the time she was singing Selena tunes into a hairbrush as a child, Stephanie Bergara imagined herself pursuing a career in music. What she couldn’t have imagined, however, was the path she would take in the industry and the amazing bond she would forge with Selena’s biggest fans.
Bergara may have been born and raised in Longhorn Country, but the Austinite is a Roadrunner for life. She had musical aspirations from a young age, and chose UTSA for its prime location, she says, in “the Tejano capital of the world.” From 2004 to 2006 she split her studies at UTSA between music theory and political science because she wanted to learn more about how governments operate.
After studying at UTSA, Bergara returned to her hometown of Austin and worked in artist relations and stage management. From 2008 to 2012 she was an agent assistant for High Road Touring, a manager for the kid-friendly stages at Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits while at C3, an event manager for Giant Noise, and a talent coordinator for the Pachanga Latino Music Festival. She sought change, though, and found it as the music tourism and audience development program coordinator for the City of Austin in 2012.
“Honestly, my grandparents and parents didn’t think I had a real job until I went to work for the city,” Bergara says with a big laugh. “They were all telling me to stay there and never quit.”
Bergara continues to manage finances for city programs that benefit Austin’s music community, and it’s a job she loves. “What I do now for the City [of Austin] is the perfect marriage of what I studied,” she says.
Her office’s programming has made great strides in providing better compensation for the city’s 10,000-plus musicians. “We can’t write a paycheck to all of them,” she says, “but we can provide a curriculum that helps them continue their music careers in a way that will make them money for as long as they want.”
Bergara has successfully executed those game plans as the front woman of her own band, Bidi Bidi Banda, one of the nation’s most popular Selena tribute acts. Bergara’s connections have also aided Bidi Bidi Banda, which has evolved from a ragtag group playing five Selena songs at a festival kickoff party to a masterly tuned celebration of Selena that has opened for Taylor Swift at the Formula 1 fan festival.
The group has also performed on the campaign trail with Beto O’Rourke, sold out venues like Austin’s Empire Control Room and San Antonio’s The Rustic, and has even built solid followings outside of Texas in cities such as Phoenix and New Orleans. Last fall, Bidi Bidi Banda wrapped up a Texas tour with electronic pop acts Neon Indian and Empress Of.
Bergara would be the first to admit that she doesn’t look like Selena or sing quite like her either, but she does try to capture her iconic energy and essence every time she takes the stage. “Her personality was as big and enchanting as her music was,” she says.
More than anything she loves connecting with Selena’s fans. They often tell her stories about seeing Selena’s final concert at the Astrodome in 1995 or spotting her at Whataburger before she became a superstar. “The band is giving me so much life, so much fulfillment,” Bergara says.
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At this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusJoin us for a tribute to Willie Velásquez, honoring the legacy of Willie Velásquez, a pivotal figure in shaping the history of Latino and Hispanic participation in the American voting process. Delve into his life and contributions as a champion of Latino voting rights. Moderated by UTSA's Teresa Niño, the event will feature influential voices, including Jane Velásquez, María Antonietta Berriozábal, Dora Oliva, and Anthony Gonzales.
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