In addition to the many sponsors and folks who made the Mariachi Miracle Sneak Peek a success, I wanted to formally thank the performers who shared their talents with our audience at the Fox Theatre.

Originally Mariachi Los Changuitos Feos was to have performed, but an outbreak of Covid sidelined the group on the day of the performance. Los Changuitos Feos was the first youth mariachi in America, the first to create a scholarship to send its members to college for their service in the group, and for generations the standard bearer for excellence and innovation. And while they were not able to appear that day, their presence in our community 58 years fter the group formed in 1964 is testament to the staying power  of the youth mariachi movement it created.

A big thanks to Mariachi Rayos Del Sol de Tucson High whose members helped us distribute and gather up the questionnaires handed to audience members during the show to get their feedback on the project and what was presented. That was a huge help.

Tucson High’s mariachi program stretches back to 1980 when Mariachi Cobre co-founder Mack Ruiz started a group at his alma mater. The school has had a succession of great teachers inkling Lucy Huestis, Alberto Ranjel and currently Justin Enriquez.

Also a big thanks to Mariachi Los Diablitos de Sunnyside High for performing at our VIP reception. Sunnyside too has a long history of mariachi involvement, stretching back to the early 1990s when David Membrila started the group. Since then the mariachi has been led by former Los Camperos de Nati Cano great Cuco Del Cid, and presently by former Mariachi Cobre co-founder Roberto Martinez.

On the main stage, big thanks to Mariachi Aztlán de Pueblo High School and Ballet Folklórico Tapatio.  Mariachi Aztlán was the first curriculum-based youth mariachi program in the Tucson Unified School District. Founded in 1992 by Richard Carranza, who as a high schooler was part of the first Tucson youth mariachi to include young women (Mariachi Nuevo), the group would propel Carranza to a career in school administration that would make him Superintendent of Schools in some of the largest school districts in America and Chancellor of Education in New York City – the largest school district on the planet.

Ballet Folklórico Tapatio, which celebrates 25 years this year, has become one of the great prides of the city. Admired for its athleticism, deep traditional approach and dazzling performance standards, the group’s members have been frequent folklórico instructors in mariachi conference around the country, in Mexico and beyond. Director Jose Luis Baca also heads Sunnysides Ballet Folklorico Los Diablitos Azul and his wife, Jimena Baca, just became director of Pueblo High School’s Ballet Folklórico Los Guerreros.