3 Carver High School Students Make Texas UIL Region 33 Mariachi Division

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It is the school’s first year participating in the event. The Carver students qualified to advance to state recordings to compete with students across the state for a spot on the State Mariachi.

The student mariachi group, Acero, started in 2019, with the dedication of the Avalos P-TECH School in October of that year, its first presentation to the Aldine ISD community. Acero is housed at Carver High School, where the mariachi program is offered to district students. While relatively new, the mariachi students are wowing audiences with their talent. Three students — Madison Rodríguez, Carlos Forero, and Edgar Hernández — recently auditioned and made the Texas UIL Region 33 Mariachi Division.

Region 33 Mariachi is a new section since this is the second year of the auditions. Aldine ISD, Humble ISD, Galena Park ISD, New Caney ISD, and Spring ISD comprise Region 33.

Students across the state have been auditioning to make their respective regional mariachi divisions. The Carver students qualified to advance to state recordings to compete with students across the state for a spot on the State Mariachi.

The State Mariachi will perform at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Conference in February 2023. TMEA will have special mariachi clinicians working with the students on concert music.

It is the school’s first year participating in the UIL Region Mariachi Division. Acero is under the direction of Jaime Alanis, the mariachi director at the school.

“The mariachi students work hard each day to hone their skills, resulting in incredible music and performances. And this is only our first time participating in regionals. For many of my students, mariachi music is the sound of community, culture, and pride. Our talented students like Madison, Carlos, and Edgar are now being recognized. They and all my students are outstanding. They each give something to make the group better,” said Alanís.

Alanis stated that it is important to offer different forms of music to students to embrace diversity. He shared that students can identify themselves and feel closer to their Mexican culture. Still, everyone — no matter their background — can learn mariachi music. Everyone can relate to stories and real-life experiences expressed in the songs. His students agree.

Madison believes that having a mariachi group in Aldine is a fantastic opportunity.

“For me, mariachi music is a way of expression. I feel this incredible joy when I play my violin or sing a song. It’s great to have a place in school, this district, where I can express and spread my culture so more people can learn. I initially chose to study mariachi music to learn more about the different music types. But I also joined to be more in tune with my culture. My family is very proud of the things we do in mariachi and the performances we go to. Any opportunity they get, they always come and support us.”

Carlos said his parents were ecstatic when he arrived home, and he told them he had joined my school’s mariachi.

“They’re thrilled that I’m representing my heritage by participating in something I love. As a composer, I believe in exposing myself to multiple music styles and techniques to embody different emotions in my music to create good music. Mariachi music is diverse. Just within the genre alone, there are many different techniques and styles. Playing in mariachi opened my mind to vibrant, upbeat melodies and rhythms for my compositions. I feel incredibly proud to have more Hispanic representation in the performing arts,” said Carlos.

Edgar first joined mariachi as just something fun he wanted to try out, but that quickly changed.

“It changed once I played more and more each day with Mariachi Acero. It became something different. It soon became a passion. I realized that it’s not just about playing. This music is about connecting with people and making everyone smile with our traditional music. I discovered that I like playing mariachi music, playing with all my friends in the group, and performing for many people. Honestly, being part of the mariachi group has been an honor. We play at events and places in and out of the district. In the future, I would love to get a music scholarship to continue to have mariachi music as part of my college journey. I also want to start performing as a side job to earn money. So far, I am enjoying my cultural experience, but I’m not the only one. My family members are proud and always have smiles on their faces when I play with the mariachi. They always support me. Even my family’s friends get excited when I tell them I play mariachi. They always talk about wanting to hire us to play because we sound so professional.”

Alanís, in his third year with Aldine ISD, has his sights on expanding the mariachi program. His goal is to continue branching out to more schools throughout the district to start mariachi programs and continue the mariachi tradition.