ENSEMBLE:  MARIACHI

Co-Directors:                                                                Dr. Dahlia Guerra, Professor, Chair, Music Department          Mr. Francisco Loera, Lecturer, Department of Modern Languages and Literature, Department of Music

Address of Program or Department:                                    UTPA Mariachi                                                              UTPA Music Department                                                  1201 West University Drive                                              Edinburg, Texas 78541

Program Description:                                                              Since 1989, the UTPA Mariachi has been one of the best known musical groups on campus and off.  The UTPA Mariachi was founded to promote Mexican Folk music and the culture of the Hispanic people for the benefit of the students and community of South Texas. The program consists of three mariachis – the UTPA Mariachi, the UTPA Mariachi Femenil, and the UTPA Mariachi Aztlan for a total of over 50 students per semester.

Mariachi is one of the most beloved types of Mexican folk music, and people of the Rio Grande Valley identify with mariachi music because it reminds them of their culture and heritage.  Mariachi is a very effective tool in teaching students discipline and dedication to an art form.  The study of music in general, especially in many genres, can lead to more broadly educated students and better citizens of the Valley with more to offer in the future. 

The UTPA Mariachi consists of music students and students of other disciplines who are preparing to be educators in the public schools of South Texas. The student population of the Rio Grande Valley is predominately Hispanic.  The study of the music and culture of the Hispanic population in the public schools promotes pride in heritage and is used to inspire the students to pursue a higher education.  Many of the students in the UTPA Mariachi will be teaching Mexican musical traditions and culture in public school students in the near future. The Mariachi students are trained in Teacher Preparation, promote the Arts and Music of the Hispanic culture, and are very active in Community Outreach on behalf of the University of Texas Pan American.

The UTPA Mariachi presents multiple performances each semester throughout Texas and the Rio Grande Valley.  In addition to local performances, the UTPA Mariachi has appeared at the Tucson International Mariachi Conferences; in Ottawa, Canada; in Los Angeles, California; at the Fifth International Mariachi Conference in Guadalajara, Mexico; at the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan Extravaganzas in San Antonio and Houston Texas; and has been invited to perform in Washington D.C. and at the Texas State Capital in Austin Texas. The UTPA Mariachi has performed with two symphony orchestras in Mexico, including performances in Monterrey, Pachuca, and Tampico, Mexico. For over ten years, in San Antonio, Texas,  and in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the UTPA Mariachi has been selected as the “Outstanding College or University Mariachi” in nationwide competition.  

The UTPA Mariachi Femenil (all female mariachi) recently won first place “University Level” in the Albuquerque Mariachi Competition 2005, and first place in the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan Extravaganza in San Antonio in December. The Mariachi Femenil opened for the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan in Austin on March 5^th 2006 and won first place in the “Best in Texas” Mariachi Invitational at the Houston Rodeo, in Houston Texas on March 12, 2006, performing for over 71,000 people. The UTPA Mariachi Femenil is the only all-female mariachi at the university level (that we are aware of).

The UTPA Mariachi has been recognized by the Texas House of Representatives (1999) and the Texas Senate (2003) for promoting the music and traditions of the Hispanic culture.

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