Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Giron.
Hi Robert, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Our journey began in 1996 with a dream: to bring Guatemala’s national instrument, the marimba, to this country. It took an entire year to have it handcrafted in Guatemala and shipped here by air, but it was worth every moment of the wait.
From there, I formed Marimba Linda Xelajú with the people closest to my heart, my own family. My eldest daughter, Jennifer; my second daughter, Beverly; and my son, Robert Junior. Little by little, our family ensemble grew, and with it, our mission to share our music with people across the United States and beyond.
Over the years, Marimba Linda Xelajú has had the honor of performing at remarkable venues, including the Library of Congress, as well as festivals in Virginia and other stages across the country. We’ve also traveled to schools in New York to introduce children to the marimba, planting seeds of curiosity and cultural appreciation in the next generation.
And today, the story continues. My goal now is to pass this gift down to my grandchildren, teaching them so that they too can carry Marimba Linda Xelajú forward and keep our legacy alive for generations to come.
It has been a beautiful journey of sharing our heritage, and I have no plans of stopping anytime soon.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of our biggest challenges was simply building the group itself. Since Marimba Linda Xelajú is a family group, it was made up of my husband and my children, and as they grew, so did the group. It was a matter of waiting, little by little, for everyone to come into their own and for the ensemble to naturally take shape over time.
Along the way, we’ve also faced the challenge of finding opportunities to perform in spaces where our music isn’t always familiar or appreciated. Not every venue or event is open to the marimba, and that has sometimes limited our reach.
But we have never let that discourage us. We persevere, we keep showing up, and we stay focused on our mission of sharing this beautiful instrument with as many people as possible. Every door that opens reminds us why we started, and that keeps us moving forward.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What I am most proud of is what we have built together as a family. Marimba Linda Xelajú is not simply a music group. It is a family group, and that is what truly sets us apart. Every member is connected not just by a love of music, but by blood, by commitment, and by a shared passion for preserving our Guatemalan heritage.
I am proud of how far we have come. Seeing what my husband helped create, watching our children grow into skilled marimba players, and performing at high-caliber events across the country is something I do not take for granted. I thank God for every opportunity we have been given.
What we specialize in is more than just music. We are ambassadors for Guatemala’s national instrument, bringing its sound and its soul to audiences who may have never experienced it before. And what sets us apart is simple: the love and unity behind every performance. When people see us on stage, they are not just watching musicians. They are seeing a family that has chosen to share its culture, its joy, and its identity with the world.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is that this legacy continues. The marimba is not just an instrument to us. It is a patriotic symbol of Guatemala, a piece of our identity, and something we carry with great pride. My deepest wish is that Marimba Linda Xelajú lives on long after my husband and I are gone.
We have already seen one generation pass the torch. My husband and I built the foundation, our children picked up the marimba and carried it further, and now my hope is that our grandchildren will do the same. I want this to be a living, breathing tradition that flows from one generation to the next, so that it never dies within our family or within our community.
Being able to bring the beautiful sound of the marimba to the United States was something very important to us, and I want it to keep playing into the future. Not just as music, but as a symbol of who we are, where we come from, and what we stand for. That is what drives me. That is what matters most.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.marimbaxelaju.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marimba.linda.xelaju?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marimbadc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@marimbalindaxelajudc
