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UTRGV’s mariachi program, a cornerstone of cultural preservation in the region, unfurled an evening of Mexican folk music during its Fall Concert, showcasing four ensembles whose artistry spanned the breadth of the program’s 35-year legacy.
The concert took place Tuesday in the Performing Arts Complex on the Edinburg campus.
David Moreno, mariachi assistant director and a trumpet lecturer in the School of Music, introduced the evening, presenting the ensembles Mariachi Vaquero, Mariachi Espuela, Mariachi Juvenil Aztlán and the nationally acclaimed Mariachi Aztlán.
This year’s performance, Moreno said, is a celebratory marker of the program’s founding in 1989 by Dahlia Guerra, a former lecturer at legacy institution University of Texas-Pan American, was a resounding demonstration of technical mastery and deep-rooted cultural pride.
Jose Rodriguez/THE RIDER
Moreno told the audience in attendance the group represents the variety of Mexican folk styles, “representing the rich traditions from regions across Mexico.”
The showcase commenced with one of the program’s newest groups, Mariachi Vaquero, which established an immediate connection with the audience.
Ximena Carrillo, a biology freshman, violinist and singer, took a moment to express gratitude, noting it was a pleasure to share a part of Mexican culture with them.
As she so elegantly sang “Palomita de Ojos Negros,” some in the crowd could be seen mouthing the lyrics.
By the fourth piece in its repertoire, the UTRGV Ballet Folklórico joined the ensemble onstage, initiating a perfect marriage of song and dance that treated the audience for the remainder of the evening.
The second ensemble to perform, Mariachi Espuela, was greeted with an eruption of applause, the sheer energy of which signaled the start of a standout performance.
The group demonstrated consistent showmanship and union while its vocalists displayed a vast range that highlighted the storytelling capabilities of the music.
Jose Rodriguez/THE RIDER
Next, Mariachi Juvenil Aztlán took the stage. Known as the official mariachi of the UTRGV Ballet Folklórico ensemble Alegría, this group also serves as the Mariachi Christmas ensemble.
Its venerated reputation was wholly upheld; the ensemble’s synchrony deployed a divine reverberation throughout the auditorium, encapsulating the audience members in their seats as they journeyed through the rhythms and timing of a truly exceptional group of musicians and artists.
The evening culminated with Mariachi Aztlán, the final ensemble, which Moreno recognized as the most successful mariachi ensemble in the nation.
This group has toured with La Reina del Mariachi Ana Cuevas since 2022, performing in more than 30 distinguished venues across the country.
The singers’ ability to hold notes for what seemed like an impossibly long duration left many in the audience awestruck by their abilities.
Jose Rodriguez/THE RIDER
The ensemble dedicated the night’s performance to Juan Loera, the father of Francisco Loera, mariachi director and senior lecturer in the School of Music.
Sitting in the audience, it was difficult not to be profoundly impacted by the artistry and the cultural connection to a legacy solidified by the merit and breadth of these ensembles.
Each artist carries a piece of history, a tradition honored through dedication to the craft.
As the curtain fell, the lingering applause was marked by the evident satisfaction and joy in the crowd’s expressions.
“I want to inspire others with this music, hopefully bring out … that culture, that drive … las ganas to study this kind of music because it truly is part of our culture,” said Juan Ramirez, music education senior and guitarist for Mariachi Vaquero, after the performance.
