In most cities, Christmas comes, well, at Christmas time.

But to young mariachi students in Tucson, Christmas comes in April with the Tucson International Mariachi Conference.

For over three decades the Tucson conference has been ground zero to students from around the country and Mexico who come to learn from the masters of the mariachi and folklórico dance worlds, meet their peers from other cities, jam into the night and generally have an amazing time.

 

 

The Espectacular Concert features world-class performers, this year featuring Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán, Mariachi Cobre, Tucson ranchera belter Monica Treviño and rising San Antonio, Texas star Nizhoni Begay.

For almost a century, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán has been the standard bearer in the mariachi world. But Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán seems intent on dethroning the kinds, and has the chops to make that happen. Spectacular showmen, they bring down the house everywhere they play.

Mariachi Cobre was born in Tucson, Arizona but has gone on to international acclaim, both as the house band for Disney Epcot Center’s Mexico pavilion and its performances with symphony orchestras across the U.S. Founding members Randy and Steve Carrillo and Mack Ruiz were all early members of Tucson’s first youth mariachi, Los Changuitos Feos, and were instrumental in creating the Tucson conference. Known for instrumental precision and vocal supremacy, Mariachi Cobre “brings it.” Everywhere it performas.

When she was 18, Monica Treviño became a pioneering female member of the acclaimed Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano. Singer Linda Ronstadt became a huge fan and encouraged her to perfect her vocal talents. Treviño’s TIMC premiere coincides with the release of her recording premiere.

By contrast this will likely be the final concert for a while by Nizhoni Begay. A multiple winner in the Mariachi Vargas vocal competition in San Antonio, Begay is also a wicked, award-winning conjunto (norteño) accordionist. While her star is very much on the rise, the talented violinist and singer, who got her start with Mariachi Las Aguilitas de Davis Bilingual Elementary School in Tucson, is hanging up her sombrero for a while to start school at Stanford in the fall.

Great as the Espectacular is, the real shows for my money are the Participant Showcase of Thursday night and the Plaza Garibaldi event all day Saturday and Sunday. These two events feature student talent from Tucson and beyond. It is always exciting to see talent emerge at younger and younger ages, and to see them go on to reach their potential in life.

Come on down to Casino Del Sol, 5655 W. Valencia Rd., and see for yourself.