Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán, and winners of the Mariachi Extravaganza, will perform at the International Trumpet Guild’s 46th Annual Conference May 31 – June 4 in San Antonio. 

The concert, billed as Mariachi Madness, takes place Tuesday, May 31 and features award-winning groups from the Mariachi Extravaganza and Mexico. 

“This is the first time in the history of the organization that we present mariachi music in a huge way,” says Mary Thornton, conference organizer. “We want to show the world of trumpeters what mariachi music is today and how it’s incorporated into so many middle schools, high schools and colleges and universities throughout the country and how this music has deep roots on both sides of the border,” she added. 

Performances from Mariachi Escandon from Roma Middle School in Roma, Mariachi Cascabel from Rio Grande City High School in Rio Grande City and Mariachi Plata from the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas will be included along with performances from top vocal winners Melanie Olivares and Deborah Carrillo-Barquero. 

The featured artists is Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. The group has recorded dozens of albums and has performed throughout the U.S. and Latin America. The musical director is Fernando Martinez, former vocalist and violinist with Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán. Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán has an extraordinary history of being one of Mexico’s greatest mariachi music ensembles with a performance record that spans over 5 decades. The group performs with fifteen members that includes seven violinists, three trumpeters and an armonia section with a harp, a guitarron, two guitars and one vihuela. 

Mariachi Madness takes place at the Lila Cockrell Theatre starting at 7:30 pm.

The concert is open to the public and tickets are $10 for students and $20 for adults for general admission seating. Tickets may be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or at the Alamodome Box Office. Tickets may also be purchased prior to the start of the concert starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Lila Cockrell Theatre. 

Mariachi Madness is presented by the International Trumpet Guild with support from the Puente de Maravillas Foundation. The show is produced by MPR, producers of the annual Mariachi Extravaganza. 

The International Trumpet Guild brings together the largest gathering of trumpeters, educators, students, manufacturers and individuals involved in the trumpet profession from across the globe. Conference participants include a wide range of accomplished musicians who will conduct recitals, clinics, workshops and presentations for conference attendees. Among the prestigious list of presenters are Juan Avendaño principal trumpet of the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia and professor at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and Augustin Sandoval, trumpet player for Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán and former member of Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán. 

Photos by Javier Vela