Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoon, the Richardson Performance Hall is filled with Del Mar’s mariachi ensemble. The mariachi group has grown over time, and it’s thriving as a proud part of campus life. Today, it gives students a chance to express their heritage, grow musically, and share the spirit of mariachi with the community.

Del Mar’s mariachi program originally began in the early ‘90s and quickly gained attention after placing in the Mariachi Extravaganza in 1999 which was very meaningful to the program. But after a few strong years, the group went inactive until 2014. Del Mar brought the group back in 2014 to help students celebrate their culture and keep mariachi music alive on campus. 

“2014 is when Mr. David Irving brought the mariachi back up. That was when I was here as a student. It was very meaningful. He created the ensemble then after he retired,” said Adjunct Instructor of Mariachi Del Mar Luz Valdez. “There didn’t seem to be a lot of movement in mariachi until I took it over in spring of 2023.”

Today, the mariachi group includes about eight members and is led by Valdez. The group includes students who play classic mariachi instruments such as the violin, trumpet, and guitar. They also sing traditional songs that reflect the genre’s Hispanic roots. 

To join, students need some prior music experience either from choir, band, or playing an instrument in general, but no prior mariachi experience is needed. The group meets weekly for rehearsals and performs at campus and school-related events only. Mariachi Del Mar performs at least once per semester in the Wolfe Recital Hall. They do not perform at private or special events outside of the college.

For many students, being part of the mariachi group helps them feel more connected to their culture and feel more confident in their musical talents. 

“I would recommend joining mariachi because it can definitely boost your confidence. It shaped me personally, it gave me a lot more confidence than before, and I’m more engaged with my peers, I’m communicating more with our music. You learn new things, learn new music, the emotion to that music,” said Kaylyn Vasquez, who plays violin and performs vocals.

Vasquez also shared why she joined Mariachi Del Mar: “Making my family proud and I miss[ed] singing.”

“Del Mar gave me an opportunity to do those things again in college. I learned a little bit of mariachi from my uncle, who is the mariachi director in Seguin, and my other uncle, he’s a choir director, so I learned a lot from him throughout my whole experience in high school and middle school choir,” explained Vasquez.

“I love mariachi. Being in the mariachi band motivates me to practice a lot and has helped me become more confident, more improved, and strive to be better,” said Adrian Eligio, who plays guitar. “If you’re looking to join mariachi, my advice to y’all is to practice and keep practicing and stay on top of assignments.” 

Del Mar’s mariachi group blends music, tradition, and student culture and its mariachi culture isn’t quite like any other ensemble. It gets the audience into a different ambiance whenever it comes to listening to mariachi versus listening to other music styles. 

Mariachi Del Mar plans to keep growing, both in size and skill. For anyone interested in joining, contact Luz Valdez by email at lvaldez54@delmar.edu.