Mariachi Ensembles

About the Program

The UT Mariachi Ensembles Spring Concert offers an exciting evening that celebrates the richness, versatility, and living tradition of mariachi music. This performance brings together students, faculty, and distinguished guest artists in a program that honors the roots of the genre while embracing its ongoing evolution.

The concert features performances by Mariachi Paredes de Tejastitlán, the Butler School of Music’s flagship mariachi ensemble, known for its artistry, precision, and commitment to traditional mariachi performance practice. Audiences will also enjoy selections by Mariachi UT lán, whose dynamic programming and youthful energy reflect the growing presence of mariachi within higher education and community music making at The University of Texas at Austin.
 

Adding a unique dimension to the program is a special performance by Andrés Palacios, DMA student in Guitar Performance at UT Austin. His appearance highlights the deep connections between classical guitar traditions and mariachi music, underscoring the technical sophistication and expressive depth shared across musical styles.
 

A truly special highlight of the evening is the guest appearance by internationally recognized mariachi harpist Guillermo Acuña. His artistry and mastery of the arpa jalisciense bring a distinctive voice to the ensemble, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience the harp’s vital role within traditional mariachi textures and repertoire.
 

The program features a thoughtfully curated mix of traditional and modern mariachi selections, showcasing time honored sones and rancheras alongside contemporary works and innovative arrangements. Together, these performances celebrate mariachi as a vibrant, evolving art form—one that bridges generations, cultures, and musical traditions while continuing to inspire new voices.
 

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About the Artists

Guillermo Acuña 

A native of El Centro, California, Guillermo “Willie” Acuña is a multi-instrumentalist and dedicated educator with a deep passion for preserving traditional folk music. A graduate of UCLA with a degree in ethnomusicology, Guillermo began his musical journey at the age of 12, first studying the trumpet before expanding his repertoire to include harp and a variety of folk instruments. As a member of Mariachi Sol de México, Guillermo has performed at a high level while remaining rooted in cultural tradition and authenticity. His experience also includes serving as the former Mariachi Director at Santa Monica College, where he mentored and inspired the next generation of musicians. He has also performed and recorded for various artists such as: Vicente Fernandez, Alejandro Fernandez, Shaila Durcal, Marco Antonio Solis and Luis Miguel, among others. Driven by a strong belief in the power of education, Guillermo is committed to sharing the richness of traditional music through both performance and teaching. He often applies his training in ethnomusicology to pay homage to those pioneers in the folk genres performed in the contemporary mariachi musics. His work reflects a lifelong dedication to cultural preservation, musical excellence, and fostering a deeper appreciation for folk traditions in diverse communities.
 

Andres Felipe Palacios

Andres Felipe Palacios began studying guitar at the age of eight in his native Colombia. His distinctions include: winner of the Young Performers Series of the Banco de la República’s National Concert Season. More recently, he won the Ex-Aequo Emerging Artists Initiative, performing for Austin Classical Guitar at The Rosette, recording a group album, and premiering Eight Sketches on Norman Lewis by Thomas Flippin. Committed to community engagement, he served as the Peabody musician-in-residence at Springwell Senior Living, the Music-for-While program at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and was artist-in-residence for the Baltimore Classical Guitar Society at Casa de la Cultura—Nuestras Raíces Inc.. He also gave masterclasses and workshops at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County as a recipient of the InterPlay Fellowship. Andres earned a B.M. in guitar pPerformance with honors from the University of Antioquia, Colombia, completed an M.M. in guitar and pedagogy and a Graduate Performance Diploma under professors Manuel Barrueco and Franco Platino at the Peabody Institute, on full scholarship. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in classical guitar performance with professor Adam Holzman at The University of Texas at Austin, and is a scholarship ambassador for the Latin GRAMMYS.

Greg Cavazos

Greg Cavazos is a highly respected mariachi director with nearly two decades of experience in education and performance throughout Texas. He has held key positions as a mariachi director at Eagle Pass High School, Cavazos Middle School, and Lubbock High School, where he cultivated vibrant mariachi programs and inspired countless students to pursue their musical passions. Mr. Cavazos holds a bachelor of music in Music Education from Texas A&M University-Kingsville where he directed Mariachi Javelina from 1998 to 2003 and a master of music in Musicology from Texas Tech University, focusing on the development of mariachi trumpet in his thesis, "The Development of Mariachi Trumpet within the Son Jalisciense." As an active member of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, he evaluates mariachi ensembles statewide and has served as a clinician for All-Region Mariachi ensembles in TMEA Regions 20, 15, 11, and 8. Currently, he directs the Mariachi Ensembles at The University of Texas at Austin and is a part of the Music and Human Learning faculty. Through his extensive experience and contributions,  Cavazos is a passionate advocate for mariachi music, dedicated to nurturing young talent and preserving this rich cultural tradition. 

 

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Musicians

Mariachi Utlán 

Violin
Jazmin Storrs 
Natalia Camelo 
Caleb Mata 
Nathanael Lim
Mia Herrera
Emma Adams
Ricardo Puente 
Larissa Jimenez Ramirez
Illyria Segundo 
Aaliyah Gonzales 
Aimee Romero Karen Morales

Trumpet
Alexandro Hernandez

Guitarron 
Sabrina Tamayo

Vihuela 
Leonardo Valencia
Judith Guerra 
Maurico Ramos
Sofia Alvarez 
Avril Lozano

Guitar
Sophia Molina 
Kaylyn Caudillo 
Alexis Turrubiartes 
Jorge Carrizales
Johan Calderon

Mariachi Paredes de Tejastitlán 

Violin
Pedro Salas
Isabella Caballero 
Nicolas Siller 
Lizbeth Sierra
Jadrian Rodriguez 
Evelyn Gonzales 
Sydney Bejarano
Samuel Villacress

Trumpet 
Isiah Serenil 
Alexander Reyes

Guitarron 
Elian Villareal

Vihuela 
Abram Camacho

Guitar
Michael Diaz
Raul Lopez
 

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