The Edcouch Elsa Mariachi group has been invited to perform at the Mariachi USA concert in Los Angeles, which is the first time a high school program has been invited to perform at the event. The group’s head director, Marcos Garcia, and assistant director, Mario Ferrer, have previously performed at the Hollywood Bowl and are excited for their students to experience the same rush and excitement. The students are also thrilled to travel with their friends and perform alongside some of the best names in mariachi. This opportunity is seen as a great honor for the school’s mariachi program and Texas education in mariachi.
The Edcouch Elsa Mariachi group is making history as they prepare to perform at the Mariachi USA concert in Los Angeles this summer. This is the first time that Mariachi USA has invited a high school program to perform at the event, and the students could not be more excited.
The head director of mariachi at Edcouch Elsa, Marcos Garcia, shared that this is an inaugural year for the students. “It’s the first time that [the Hollywood Bowl] wants to highlight Texas education in mariachi and so they invited our students alongside a couple of other groups in the Valley who will be participating who are students of Los Arrieros Del Valle,” Garcia said.
Garcia and Mario Ferrer, assistant director for mariachi, have been working together for 11 years at the school. The two directors play with a professional group called Los Arrieros Del Valle and have been invited to the Hollywood Bowl several times. They remembered the first time they performed at the Hollywood Bowl in front of 16,000 to 18,000 people on a rotating stage and look forward to their students being able to experience that same excitement.
“The first time you do that performance your adrenaline kicks in, the rush is unbelievable and the experience is amazing,” Garcia said. “So, I want the students to feel that sort of rush and excitement for the first time. Just the fact that they’ve been invited to this is amazing and we’re looking forward to sharing the stage with them.”
The students are also thrilled to travel with their friends. Angelina Rodriguez, a senior at Edcouch Elsa High School, said her cohort has been performing together since the 6th grade. She said the Hollywood Bowl is a very selective event and the group is excited to perform alongside some of the best names in mariachi. “Personally, I am really excited just to be in Los Angeles,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve never been there before so it’s a really great opportunity for all of us especially those of us that never really get out of Texas.”
Thomas Hernandez, a senior at Edcouch Elsa High School, said he is most looking forward to this being his last hoorah with his high school friends. Hernandez said he is excited to play alongside his own.
The Edcouch Elsa Mariachi group has been working hard to prepare for this momentous occasion. They have been rehearsing their music and perfecting their performance, eager to showcase their talent on the Hollywood Bowl stage. The students are honored to be representing Texas education in mariachi and are excited to share their love of music with the world.
The Mariachi USA concert is a celebration of mariachi music and culture, featuring some of the best mariachi performers from around the world. This year’s event promises to be a memorable one, with the Edcouch Elsa Mariachi group making history as the first high school program to perform at the event.
The Edcouch Elsa Mariachi group’s trip to Los Angeles is a testament to their hard work and dedication to their craft. It is also a reminder of the importance of music education in schools and the impact it can have on students’ lives. The group’s journey to the Hollywood Bowl is sure to be a life-changing experience for all involved.
As the Edcouch Elsa Mariachi group prepares to take the stage at the Mariachi USA concert, they carry with them the pride and support of their community. They are a shining example of the talent and potential that exists within our schools, and we wish them all the best as they make history on the Hollywood Bowl stage.
