Audiences simply love Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, and we’re delighted to bring them back after a four-year hiatus with this special concert that will also showcase youth performers from the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza National Vocal Competition. No other mariachi in history has had a trajectory or influence remotely comparable to theirs; they are widely considered the finest in the world. Founded in a small city near Jalisco by Don Gaspar Vargas in the 1890s, this band basically invented the modern mariachi. With world-class vocalists and instrumentalists, flawless ensemble work, impeccable taste in repertoire, and spellbinding showmanship, the group never fails to engage its audience, eliciting spontaneous gritos, sing-alongs, and one ovation after another with heart-wrenching vocals and virtuosic instrumentals.

This concert will feature a special performance by Mariachi Nuevo Santander. This award-winning youth Mariachi group from Roma High School (TX) is recognized as the top Mariachi group among high schools in the US, winning the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza in December 2019. They have recorded several albums, appeared on national television, and performed throughout the US, from Washington, DC to Ashland, OR.