Brownsville, TX – April 5, 2024 – Texas Southmost College is thrilled to unveil its inaugural Mariachi Festival, a grand celebration of Mexican culture set to captivate audiences and foster community engagement while embracing cultural diversity within our college and surrounding communities. The festival will run on April 19 & 20, 2024, at the historic Texas Southmost College campus.  

This two-day festival promises a unique blend of education, entertainment, and talent showcasing. Attendees can look forward to a rich cultural experience through a myriad of performances, workshops, and interactive sessions aimed at promoting mariachi education and local talent,  https://www.tsc.edu/news/mariachi-festival/. 

“The Mariachi traje is the armor of our culture, bestowing us with special powers that make us feel like superheroes,” said Texas Southmost College Music Program Administrator and Mariachi Escorpion Director Avigai Gonzalez. “The vibrant colors of our culture serve as the shield of our superpowers, empowering and inspiring us to embrace our true heritage and strength.”  

Headlining this prestigious event are the renowned Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández, a group of internationally acclaimed musicians, composers, and educators who have made significant contributions to the mariachi music genre. Their performances promise to be nothing short of mesmerizing, breaking boundaries with their unparalleled talent. 

In addition to the stellar headliners, the festival also features a lineup of local expert musicians and clinicians, including Texas Southmost College Mariachi Director Avigai Gonzalez, Mariachi Margarita’s Karina Vela, Texas Southmost College Mariachi Escorpion, and UTRGV Mariachi Aztlan. The wealth of talent and expertise assembled for this event ensures an enriching experience for all attendees. 

Join us for a weekend filled with melodies, culture, and community spirit as we come together to celebrate the art of mariachi music. Don’t miss the opportunity to be a part of Brownsville’s premiere Mariachi Festival! 

For more information and ticket sales, please visit Texas Southmost College Mariachi Festival website page @ https://www.tsc.edu/news/mariachi-festival/ 

The following students are the Texas Southmost College Mariachi Festival 2024 Vocal Competition Finalist:  

Middle School (MS) Vocal Finalists 

Yareli Cano, Fossum MS; Arely Decanini Da Vinci School for Science and the Arts; Evelyn Delgado, Gutierrez MS; Jacob Estrada, BL Garza MS; Matteo Lopez, IDEA Pharr, TX;  Karol Ramirez, Roma MS. 

High School (HS) Vocal Finalists 

Sienna Delgado, San Marcos HS; Diego Fernandez , Veterans Memorial ECHS; Lea Garcia, McAllen HS; Lorriane Garza, Roma HS; Samuel Garza, Roma HS; Daniel Gonzalez, Hanna ECHS;  Athena Gonzalez, Weslaco HS; Jose Guerra, Nikki Rowe HS; Aiza Guerrero, Harlingen HS;  Daniela Lopez, San Marcos HS; Aliah Maldonado, La Joya HS; Michelle A. Meraz, Rio Grande City HS;  Frida Montelongo, Valley View HS;  Jaida Ortiz, Weslaco East HS;  Dante Ramos, La Joya HS; Lesly Rodriguez, Los Fresnos HS; Alicia Rojas, Simon Rivera ECHS; Dayanara Salinas, Roma HS; America Fernanda Sanchez, Palmview HS; Isaias Torres, Kinder HSPVA; Merari Uribe, Palmview HS; Leandra Valdez, San Antonio HS; Abigail Vela, Veterans Memorial ECHS; Sergio Villa-Sansores, Da Vinci School for Science and the Arts. 

Attend one or all of the public events. Purchase tickets online @ top box.  

Saturday Evening Grand Concert 

Attend the Vocal Competition  

Attend the Mariachi Competition