District’s Mariachi Acero Shines at Regional and State Competitions

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Aldine ISD’s high school group Mariachi Acero has had an outstanding competitive year. The group headed to the state competition after earning Sweepstakes in the Texas UIL Region Mariachi Contest in January. It was the first time the mariachi group advanced to the state-level mariachi contest. At the State UIL Contest in late February, Mariachi Acero received a 2nd Division Rating and seven outstanding medals for the best violin section. The group also played at the Mariachi Region Concert in March.

The student mariachi group, Acero, started in 2019 and is housed at Carver High School, where the mariachi program is offered to district students. Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney has supported the district’s performing arts. She worked with Refugio Rodríguez, director of music education, to establish the district’s first mariachi ensemble. While still relatively new, the mariachi students are wowing audiences with their talent, including playing at the Houston Rodeo’s Go Tejano’s Mariachi Invitational at the Arena Theatre in 2020.

The group began competing in the UIL Region Mariachi Division in 2023. In 2022, three members auditioned and made the Texas UIL Region 33 Division. Region 33 Mariachi was a new section established in 2021. Aldine ISD, Humble ISD, Galena Park ISD, New Caney ISD, and Spring ISD comprise Region 33. This Year, Mariachi Acero participated in the State UIL Contest for the first time in History and received a Distinguished Performance Award. All violin students also received Gold Medals for best section by all three judges.

Jaime Alanis is the school’s mariachi director. He is in his fourth year with Aldine ISD. Alanis wants to expand the mariachi program and continue the tradition by starting mariachi programs in more schools throughout the district.