Wednesday, February 26, 2025
  Arts, Community, Around Campus

By News and Internal Communications

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – FEB. 26, 2025 – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley will come alive with young mariachi groups from across the region during the annual Mariachi Festival, a vibrant celebration of youth talent and cultural heritage as part of the Festival of International Books and Arts (FESTIBA).

This year’s festival, taking place from Feb. 28-March 1 at the Performing Arts Complex in Edinburg, will feature an impressive lineup of vocal and group competitions for middle and high school students, culminating in a special performance by Grammy-nominated artist José Hernández and his acclaimed mariachi group, Mariachi Sol de México.

Francisco Loera, co-director of UTRGV’s Mariachi Aztlán, noted that the Mariachi Festival provides an excellent opportunity to showcase the university’s award-winning mariachi ensembles to young musicians. Participants will also have the chance to learn and be inspired by some of the best mariachi artists during instrumental workshops and masterclasses on Friday. 

“It is exciting for these kids to meet high-level mariachi members, as it motivates them to keep going and push harder to compete,” Loera said.

Co-director David A. Moreno said that mariachi music is a powerful expression of love, passion and technical skill. He emphasized the importance of supporting the mariachi program and fine arts, as it allows the community to witness the music theory, composition and professionalism that students are learning.

“Experiencing genres like sones, boleros and huapangos performed live by our talented students and world-class musicians is vital for fostering appreciation in our community,” Moreno said.

2025 MARIACHI FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

Friday, Feb. 28

  • Mariachi Festival Vocal Competition: 5:30-8 p.m. This event includes the middle and high school semi-finals, followed by a musical showcase featuring UTRGV’s Mariachi Aztlán and the competition winners.

Saturday, March 1

  • Mariachi Group Competition: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Division and grand champion winners will be announced.
  • Mariachi Festival Grand Concert: 7-9 p.m. This concert will showcase the middle and high school vocal and ensemble competition winners, along with Mariachi Aztlán and Mariachi Sol de México.

For more information on the FESTIBA Mariachi Festival, visit www.utrgv.edu/festiba/program/mariachi.



ABOUT UTRGV

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) was created by the Texas Legislature in 2013 as the first major public university of the 21st century in Texas. This transformative initiative provided the opportunity to expand educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley, including a new School of Medicine, and made it possible for residents of the region to benefit from the Permanent University Fund – a public endowment contributing support to the University of Texas System and other institutions.

UTRGV has campuses and off-campus research and teaching sites throughout the Rio Grande Valley including in Boca Chica Beach, Brownsville (formerly The University of Texas at Brownsville campus), Edinburg (formerly The University of Texas-Pan American campus), Harlingen, McAllen, Port Isabel, Rio Grande City, and South Padre Island. UTRGV, a comprehensive academic institution, enrolled its first class in the fall of 2015, and the School of Medicine welcomed its first class in the summer of 2016.