Yasmine Dueñes from the College of Southern Nevada will perform at the 5th Annual Mariachi Festival in Houston as the Grand Champion Vocal winner from the 29th Annual Mariachi Extravaganza. The three-day music festival is a celebration of Hispanic culture and features mariachi musicians and ballet folklórico dancers from across Texas, National Youth Mariachi Vocal Competition winners, and special guests Oscar De La Rosa and Eduardo Antonio Treviño.
“We are beyond excited to present this festival for its fifth year,” says Mariachi Festival Executive Director Ben Mendez. “These performers are exceptional, and the pride of presenting our culture’s music and dance to our audiences is indescribable.”
The Houston Mariachi Festival features several winners from the Mariachi Extravaganza National Vocal Competition including Eduardo Antonio Treviño who placed 1st in the Middle School Category in 2022, Isabella Gonzalez who placed 1st, and Carolina Rodriguez who placed 2nd in the High School Category at the Mariachi Extravaganza National Vocal Competition in December and Kaylee Bucio who was selected as the Grand Champion Vocal Winner in 2019.
Opening night of the festival, August 23, features Oscar de la Rosa singing with mariachi, a 20th anniversary performance by Mariachi 7 Leguas, and performances by the Rio Grande Ballet Folklórico and Carolina Rodriguez, also a FESTIBA Mariachi Festival vocal winner.
Night two, August 24, is an evening celebration featuring Mariachi Mariposas and the University of Houston’s Mariachi Pumas, with additional appearances from the Ballet Folklórico of South Texas College, the Winners of the 2024 National Youth Mariachi Vocalist Competition, and Yasmine Duenes, the Grand Champion of the 2023 Mariachi Extravaganza.
The third and final night of the festival, August 25, culminates in a show that invites audience members to join in the cultural celebration by wearing traditional Mexican dresses and guayaberas. The lineup features performances from Mariachi Imperial de America and Eduardo Antonio Treviño as well as México en Danzas Grupo Folklórico.
Oscar De La Rosa is the lead singer of the musical group La Mafia. Founded in 1980 in Houston, Texas, the band has become a cornerstone of Tejano music, with De La Rosa’s vocals at the forefront. Under his leadership, La Mafia has garnered widespread acclaim, including five GRAMMY Awards between 1997 and 2020. De La Rosa’s power continues to shine even as a soloist. His stage presence and his ability to connect with audiences across generations is what makes him truly one of a kind.
Joining Oscar De La Rosa at the festival will be Mariachi 7 Leguas, winners of the International Mariachi Competition, Sones De Mariachi Por El Mundo. Founded in 2005 by Emilio Santos, Jr., this fifteen-member ensemble has been performing across the country for nearly two decades. Their performances, deeply rooted in Mexican tradition, showcase the rich cultural heritage of mariachi music while bringing a fresh energy to the genre.
Mariachi 7 Leguas Members:
Emilio Santos/Director – Violin – McAllen, TX
Emmanuel Peña – Trumpet – Roma, TX
Daniel Estrada – Trumpet – Donna, TX
José Zamora – Trumpet- Donna, TX
Joseph Padron – Arpa – Sharyland, TX
Aden López – Guitarron – La Grulla, TX
Pedro García – Vihuela – Hidalgo, TX
Alejandro Vázquez – Guitar – Roma, TX
Ruben De Los Santos – Guitar – Edinburg, TX
Antonio Delgadillo – Violin- El Paso, TX
Mario Gutiérrez – Violin – Roma, TX
Carlos Abel Acuña – Violin- Edinburg, TX
Sebastián Macías – Violin – Hidalgo, TX
Genesis Leal – Violin – La Grulla, TX
Caleb Arellano – Violin- McAllen, TX
Mariachi Mariposas, an all-female ensemble from Texas’s Rio Grande Valley, has been captivating audiences worldwide since their formation in the summer of 2012. Founded with the mission of providing performance opportunities for female mariachi musicians, the group has quickly risen to prominence. Their performances and dedication to the art form have earned them recognition as one of the top female mariachi groups in Texas, breaking barriers and inspiring a new generation of musicians in the traditionally male-dominated genre.
Mariachi Mariposas Members:
Mayra Garcia-Adame/Director-Violin- Mission, TX
Elizabeth Salinas-Pagan-Violin- Edinburg, TX
Priscilla Espinoza- Violin- Edinburg, TX
Nicole Guzman-Violin- Mission, TX
Mellanie Olivares- Violin- La Joya, TX
Rebeca Cano-Violin-Donna, TX
Ashley Escamilla-Trumpet-Mission, TX
Natalie Carmona-Guitar-Mcallen, TX
Griselda Solis-Trumpet- Alamo, TX
Lorena Lopez-Guitarron-Edinburg, TX
Karla Perez-Vihuela-Mcallen, TX
Vanessa Garza-Guitar-Edinburg, TX
Houston’s own University of Houston’s Mariachi Pumas debuted in 2019 under the guidance of the college’s Moores School of Music and director Jose Longoria, who also directs the acclaimed Mariachi Imperial de America. An ensemble composed of UH students, the group aims to bring students and Houstonians alike together through the power of mariachi music.
Mariachi Imperial de America has existed for over 35 years, founded in Houston by the Longoria family patriarch. It began as an ensemble that performed at parties and local venues, eventually growing into an internationally traveled and highly acclaimed group recognized as the #1 Mariachi in Houston by the Houston Press in 2005. Their diverse performances have made them a standout in the mariachi genre, interpreting songs in Spanish but English, Mandarin, and Armenian. The band represents multiple generations of mariachi musicians and strives to create awareness of Mexican culture in every performance.
Twelve-year-old mariachi soloist Eduardo Antonio Treviño achieved his breakout performance on America’s Got Talent last year. His status as a prodigy became widely known to his home state of Texas when he represented Humble ISD in San Antonio’s 28th Annual Mariachi Extravaganza, winning first place in the elementary/middle school category. He takes inspiration from his great-grandfather, who was mariachi recording artist Mexican Ranchera singer Vicente Fernandez.
MARIACHI FESTIVAL VOCAL COMPETITION WINNERS
Winners of the 2024 Mariachi Festival online vocal competition will perform on Saturday, August 24 with accompaniment by the University of Houston’s Mariachi Pumas led by Jose Longoria. Congratulations to the following students:
- Elementary School: Alessandra Gutierrez, 7 year-old from Bakersfield, CA.
- Middle School: Kaylee Bucio, 13 year-old from West Jordan, UT.
- High School: Isabella Karol Gonzalez, 17 year-old from Roma, TX.
- High School: Reina Ley, 16 year-old from San Tan Valley, AZ.
Sponsors of the Houston Mariachi Festival include Telemundo, Que Onda Magazine, Action Gypsum Supply, Compean Funeral Home and the Gonzalez Law Group. To be part of sponsoring the 5th Annual Mariachi Festival and take advantage of unique VIP experiences, contact Ben Mendez at benmendez@mariachifestival.com. Sponsorships begin at $500 for eight (8) seats.
Additional information and past festival highlights at mariachifestival.com.
TICKET INFORMATION
The festival returns August 23-25 at the Wortham Center’s Brown Theater in Houston. Tickets start at $19, at performingartshouston.org or mariachifestival.com or call (713) 227-4772.
ABOUT THE HOUSTON MARIACHI FESTIVAL
Mariachi Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded on August 9, 2019. Our mission is to promote our Hispanic culture through the arts. With your support, we will continue to have events that we all can be proud of. Our goal is to make Houston a city that is known for first-class events featuring some of the best mariachi and ballet folklórico groups in the country.
ABOUT PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON
Performing Arts Houston connects audiences with national and global touring artists, exploring a wide range of artistic genres. Each year, the organization presents full seasons of performances in the Theater District and throughout the city. Beyond the stage, the non-profit collaborates with artists, schools, and community partners to create engagement programs for all ages, including masterclasses, workshops, classroom programs, student matinees, and performance opportunities. Since 2020, it has supported new works by local artists through the Houston Artist Commissioning Project. Founded in 1966, Performing Arts Houston has presented many of the most popular, celebrated, and culturally significant artists of our time.
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CALENDAR DETAILS
Performing Arts Houston presents
5th Annual Houston Mariachi Festival
August 23 – 25, 2024
Friday & Saturday, 7:00 pm
Sunday, 3:00 pm
Brown Theater, Wortham Center, Houston, TX
Mariachi Festival with Oscar de la Rosa and Mariachi 7 Leguas plus Rio Grande Ballet Folklórico and Carolina Rodriguez
August 23, 2024
Friday, 7 pm
Brown Theater, Wortham Center
Mariachi Festival with Mariachi Mariposas and University of Houston’s Mariachi Pumas plus Ballet Folklórico of South Texas College, Winners of the 2024 National Youth Mariachi Vocalist Competition, and Yasmine Duenes
August 24, 2024
Saturday, 7 pm
Brown Theater, Wortham Center
Mariachi Festival with Mariachi Imperial de America and Eduardo Antonio Treviño plus México en Danzas Grupo Folklórico
August 25, 2024
Sunday, 3 pm
Brown Theater, Wortham Center
Thank you Ben Mendez for collaborating with the Mariachi Extravaganza to present National Grand Champion Vocal Winners at the Houston Mariachi Festival. Participation in this event is a memorable experience that will last a lifetime and a wonderful opportunity for these students to share their talent with the Houston market! Mil gracias!
