Performing Arts Houston partners with Houston Mariachi Festival to present fifth annual celebration of Hispanic culture
(HOUSTON, July 24, 2024) – Performing Arts Houston and Mariachi Festival partner to present the 5th Annual Mariachi Festival. This three-day celebration of Hispanic culture features mariachi musicians and ballet folklórico dancers from across Texas, National Youth Mariachi Competition winners, and special guests Oscar De La Rosa and Eduardo Antonio Treviño. Sponsored by Houston First, Action Gypsum Supply, Telemundo and Que Onda! Magazine, the festival returns August 23-25 at the Wortham Center’s Brown Theater. Tickets start at $19, at performingartshouston.org.
“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.”
“It is an honor to continue our partnership with the Mariachi Festival presenting three nights of Hispanic music and culture in the Theater District” says Meg Booth, Performing Arts Houston President and CEO. “Music, dancing, costuming and traditional dress, the festival is a joyful event celebrating the rich and beautiful mariachi artistry and tradition.”
Opening night of the festival, August 23, features Oscar de la Rosa singing with Mariachi 7 Leguas, andperformances by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Ballet Folklórico and Carolina Rodriguez, the winner of the 2024 Festiba Mariachi Festival. Audience members are encouraged to wear business casual attire.
Night two, August 24, is an evening celebration where attendees are asked to dress in formal wear. The night’s performers include the Mariachi Mariposas and the University of Houston 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, the Houston All-Star High School Mariachi Group, 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 twelve-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 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.
Houston’s own University of Houston 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, as they sing songs in Spanish, 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 then went on to win the Mariachi Festival’s National Youth Mariachi Vocalist Competition in the elementary category in June 2023. He takes inspiration from his great-grandfather, who was mariachi recording artist Mexican Ranchera singer Vicente Fernandez.
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
Tickets start at $19, at performingartshouston.org or (713) 227-4772. Performing Arts Houston members enjoy 10% savings off all regular tickets.
ABOUT 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 Mariachi Festival
August 23 – 25, 2024
Friday & Saturday, 7:00 pm
Sunday, 3:00 pm
Brown Theater, Wortham Center
Tickets start at $19
performingartshouston.org
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 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
Connect with us on social media:
Facebook: @performingartshouston
Instagram: @performingartshouston
X: @artshoustontx
For media inquiries, please contact:
Caroline Senter, Public Relations Associate
Email: csenter@performingartshouston.org
Phone: 713-632-8105
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