San Marcos High School Mariachi Returns From UIL State Mariachi Festival

By, Terra Rivers, Managing Editor

The San Marcos High School Mariachi Band competed in the UIL State Mariachi Festival last weekend and returned home with a First Division Superior Performance Award.

The SMHS Mariachi Nuevo Cascabel qualified for state level competition a few weeks ago and were able to take the state last weekend at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Texas.

Seventy schools were in attendance for the annual competition but only a few were awarded the highest honor by a panel of professional mariachi musicians and educators.

As well as winning the First Division Superior Performance Award, two students were awarded Outstanding Performer Awards. Gabe Ortiz and Alicia Cruz were awarded the award for their incredible instrumental and vocal skills.  

“It is great to see mariachi making a come back at SMCISD,” said Juan Cavazos, Latin Music Ensembles and Classical Guitar teacher at SMHS. “And we look forward to building a nationally ranked program over the next couple of years!”

The SMHS Mariachi returned to San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District three years ago.