TCU kicked off its fifth biennial Latin American Music Festival on Monday evening. The events will continue throughout the week and come to a close Saturday.

The festival was started in 1998 to promote Latin American music and artists, said Liz Branch, international student adviser for International Student Services. She said the artists will showcase classical Latin music, rather than the popular music most Americans know, such as salsa and merengue.

Mickey Hensel, a sophomore music education major, said he will be performing in the festival as well as attending it during his nights off.

“I like to go and just listen to the music,” Hensel said. “The rhythm of Latin music is just so different than what we’re used to.”

Because of the unique rhythm of Latin music, Branch said, the percussion night is one of the greatest parts of the festival. She said the festival brings many visitors and guest soloists to TCU and has been a hit each year.

German Gutierrez, director of the center for Latin American music studies, said the event will bring in about 5,000 students from the Fort Worth Independent School District.