Viva Southwest Mariachi Conference

The Metropolitan State University of Denver Department of Music along with the Latino Cultural Arts Center (LCAC) welcome you back to the Auraria Campus for the 8th Viva Southwest Mariachi Conference on April 17 and 18, 2026!

Our mission is to build Colorado as a national center for Mariachi excellence by building a pipeline of talent from the community to higher education and professional careers.

We will have three levels of classes: beginner, intermediate and advanced. We will have masterclasses for ensembles that audition for them (extra cost, limited to four groups, held Friday only) through an online portal.

Finally, we will have two concerts: on Friday, local all-female mariachi Las Dahlias will perform with participants and school ensembles. On Saturday, April 18, we will have our Showcase concert featuring the Mariachi Estelares de Colorado, Colorado’s All-State Mariachi Ensemble, will performing along with the masterclass ensembles, with the best ensemble (voted on by a jury of faculty) being granted the title “El Rey de las Montañas”.

Mariachi Workshop for Music Educators
April 18, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
King Center

On April 18, Las Dahlias will present a special workshop for educators. Anyone can register for register for the workshop, even if not participating as a conference member.

This full-day Mariachi Educator Workshop is designed for teachers currently teaching mariachi or those interested in starting a mariachi program. Participants will explore authentic, culturally responsive teaching strategies through focused presentations and a collaborative roundtable discussion. The day also includes hands-on ensemble experiences, where educators will play mariachi repertoire together and learn instrument-specific techniques unique to the tradition.

Presented in partnership with Viva Southwest Mariachi Festival and the Cuerdas y Canciones Center for Mariachi Arts and Culture, this workshop offers practical tools, musical growth, and meaningful connection with fellow mariachi educators.

Join us and strengthen your mariachi teaching practice—register today and be part of this valuable professional learning experience.

The cost to attend to the workshop is $75. You do not have to register for the conference to attend the workshop.

Join us for two nights of spectacular Mariachi music!

Friday, April 17 at 7:30 pm in the King Center Concert Hall, our conference participants will perform along with Las Dahlias.

Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 pm in the King Center Concert Hall, the Mariachi Estelares de Colorado, Colorado’s All-State Mariachi Ensemble, will perform along with masterclass mariachi ensembles.

Tickets are $12 for each concert. Conference registrants receive one free ticket for each concert.

Dr. Lorenzo A. Trujillo, artistic director

The 2026 Viva Southwest Mariachi Conference Faculty:
José Hernández
Jose Carrillo
Erick Hernandez
Christopher Rubalcava
Jose Pepe Perez
Alejandro Ascencio

Educators Workshop Teachers:
Priscilla Arasaki
Marialuisa Meza-Burgos

Artistic Director

Lorenzo A. Trujillo, Ed.D., J.D. grew up in Denver and spent many summers in Arroyo Seco, New Mexico (eight miles outside of Taos) with his extended family.  He was highly influenced by his aunt, Eva Nuánez, as a vocalist, guitarist, and violinist.  He also engaged his energies in ethnic dance and collaborated with his mother, Marie Orália Durán Trujillo, in the formation of the Southwest Dancers in the early 1970’s.  He taught Mexican Folkdance and Flamenco at the Sangre De Cristo Arts Center in Pueblo, Colorado, the University of Colorado at Boulder and Denver, and at San Francisco State University.  He is the Director of the Mariachi Program at Metropolitan State University in Denver (see Facebook page and webpage LorenzoTrujillo.com).

For over two decades, he was a member of the Mariachi Alegre de San Cayetano where he played violin and sang.  As a musician, dancer, and culture bearer, Lorenzo was awarded the Colorado Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.  He was inducted into the Colorado Chicano Music Hall of Fame and has served on the National Endowment for the Arts as a performing artist, grants panelist, and arts program evaluator.  He was also named a Colorado Folk Artist and Master Teacher by the Colorado Council on the Arts through the Master/Apprentice Program and in 2012 was awarded the Tesoro de Oro by the Tesoro Cultural Center.

Lorenzo formed the Southwest Musicians in the late 1980’s, recording several musical standards that are part of a vast repertoire of regional social dances and popular Mexican music of the early and mid-twentieth century.  Among his recordings are: Musical Traditions of Colorado and New Mexico (Southwest Musicians); Con Cariño (Mariachi Alegre); A Musical Banquet: From Santa Fe to Denver (with E.J. Rodriguez), and, The Golden Age of the Southwest: From 1840 to Hollywood. He has toured in Ireland, Peru and Italy, presenting traditional music, liturgical and classical repertoire.

In his noted publication, Music of Colorado and New Mexico’s Río Grande, in Enduring Legacies: Ethnic Histories and Culture of Colorado, University of Colorado Press, Lorenzo highlights the history of the Casorio and Entriega wedding traditions celebrated throughout the Upper Río Grande Region of Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico of the 1840’s.  He holds a Doctorate in Education and Juris Doctorate Degrees (Ed.D., J.D.) and served as Assistant Dean and Professor at the University of Colorado School of Law.

Currently, he is the Director of the Mariachi Program at Metropolitan State University of Denver, the President of Hilos Culturales, a non-profit organization that preserves, promotes, and presents Hispanic traditions from the 1840’s of Colorado and New Mexico.  He serves as the Director of, Nuestras Raices: Música Mariachi Rocky Ridge Music, Vice Chairman, Tesoro Cultural Center, Director, Viva Southwest Mariachi Festival Workshop & Showcase, Director, Latino Cultural Arts Center Mariachi Program,  Director, Southwest Musicians, and Trustee, Colorado Symphony.

José Ledesma Hernández is an internationally renowned mariachi musician, composer, educator, and cultural ambassador. He is the visionary founder of several groundbreaking ensembles and organizations, including Mariachi Sol de México® de José Hernández, Mariachi Reyna de Los Ángeles—the first all female mariachi in the U.S.—the Mariachi Heritage Society, and the NFL’s official Mariachi Rams.

Born on August 27, 1958, in Mexicali, Baja California, José comes from a proud lineage of mariachis and musicians, with family musical roots tracing back to the 1700s. He was named after his grandfather, José Hernández, a musician born in 1901 in Jalisco, Mexico, who helped lay the musical foundation that would inspire future generations.

In 1962, at the age of four, José immigrated with his family to East Los Angeles, settling in the Maravilla housing projects. The move provided greater opportunities for his father, Esteban Hernández—a professional mariachi who began performing at the famed El Granada Nightclub on 622 N Broadway in Los Angeles in 1955 with Mariachi Chapala.

From a young age, José showed an extraordinary passion for music. At just six years old, he began performing for neighbors, charging a nickel per song. He formally took up the trumpet in the fourth grade while attending North Ranchito Elementary School in Pico Rivera, California. During high school at El Rancho, he performed mariachi music alongside his brothers and joined the mariachi ensemble at Disneyland Resort in Frontierland during his junior and senior years.

Between 1976 and 1981, José performed with his brothers’ mariachi ensemble, Los Galleros, directed by his eldest brother, Pedro Rey. He further developed his musical talents at the Grove School of Music in Studio City, where he studied arranging and composition. His work has since been featured in over 20 Hollywood films, establishing him as a creative force in both traditional and contemporary mariachi music.

In 1981, José founded Mariachi Sol de México® with a bold vision: to expand the boundaries of mariachi music and elevate the genre beyond its traditional roots in ranchera and golden-age Mexican cinema. Under his leadership, the ensemble has become a global ambassador for mariachi, known for its musical excellence and genre-blending innovation.

Throughout his illustrious career, José has been nominated for four American Grammy Awards and nine Latin Grammys. He has collaborated with a remarkable roster of artists, including Vicente and Alejandro Fernández, Luis Miguel, Marco Antonio Solís, Lola Beltrán, Celia Cruz, Selena, Vikki Carr, Linda Ronstadt, Arturo Sandoval, José Feliciano, the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, and The Beach Boys.

He has received numerous accolades in both the United States and Mexico, including the prestigious Azteca de Oro Award in Mexico City. In 2021, he was honored with the César Chávez Legacy of Service Award by the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation for his contributions to music and community empowerment.

José and Mariachi Sol de México® have performed for five U.S. Presidents— Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. They have served as cultural ambassadors representing Mexico in countries such as North Korea and China and have sold out performances in iconic venues including New York’s Lincoln Center and the Viña del Mar International Song Festival in Chile.

In 1991, José founded the Mariachi Heritage Society, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving mariachi music through education. His innovative curriculum has influenced music education in 37 U.S. states and Latin America. The Society offers after-school mariachi instruction across five school districts in Los Angeles and Orange County, beginning with the LA Music and Arts School in East L.A. Thousands of students have been inspired by José’s teaching and passion for mariachi music.

In 1994, recognizing the need for greater gender representation in mariachi, José established Mariachi Reyna de Los Ángeles. This pioneering all-female ensemble has not only earned Grammy nominations but has also been formally recognized by the Smithsonian Institution for “profoundly changing the course of women in mariachi history.”

In 2019, José once again made history by launching the Mariachi Rams—the first NFL-branded mariachi ensemble—in partnership with the Los Angeles Rams. Together with Sol de México and Reyna de Los Ángeles, this group continues to bridge cultural and musical traditions across mainstream and Hispanic audiences.

Today, José Hernández continues to perform, compose, and educate while working on his highly anticipated autobiography, which will reflect on his 50-year career and the profound impact of mariachi music on American culture and the global stage.

Born in Zacatecas, Mexico, Jose came to the U.S. in 1991 and began playing mariachi in 1994. For 25 years, he has been a guitarrón instructor at the prestigious Albuquerque Mariachi Spectacular and has also served as master of ceremonies. Jose has recorded, arranged, and produced music for renowned artists including Jenni Rivera, Paquita la del Barrio, Ana Bárbara, Los Huracanes del Norte, and others. A dedicated educator, he teaches mariachi to elementary, high school, and university students in Albuquerque Public Schools. He believes that music education is essential to nurturing new generations of musicians inspired by mariachi music.

Erick Hernandez is a Los Angeles native, violinist, and former member of Mariachi Sol De Mexico de Jose Hernandez, Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, Mariachi Estrella de Jalisco, and Mariachi Los Rams. He has taught in a variety of mariachi clinics throughout the United States and Mexico and has conducted mariachi violin masterclasses in New Mexico, New York, Las Vegas, Texas, Arizona, and California. Erick has performed at The White House (Washington, D.C.), Walt Disney Concert Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Stanford University, U.S. Virgin Islands, Palacio Bellas Artes (Mexico City, Mexico), Teatro Degollado (Guadalajara, Mexico), England (George Harrison Estate), and a variety of other prestigious venues throughout the world. He has also recorded music for films: Sea Biscuit, Rango, Beverly Hills Chihuahua1 and 2, No strings Attached, and From Prada to Nada.

Christopher Rubalcava is a trumpet performer, mariachi director, and educator based in Riverside County, California, with over 15 years of experience in performance and music education. He is the director of Mariachi Corazón de Mi Tierra, performs with Mariachi Rams, and is a mariachi educator with the Riverside Arts Academy. Christopher holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry from Cal Poly Pomona and has served as a clinician for Honor Mariachi ensembles with the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to his educational work, he is an active recording artist and can be heard on Santiago Alberto’s latest album, Capítulo 1. Christopher is passionate about preserving mariachi tradition while mentoring the next generation of musicians.”

José Bernardo Pérez is a seasoned mariachi musician and educator, currently teaching for the Mariachi Heritage Society and performing as a vihuelista and vocalist with Mariachi Sol de Mexico. With over 20 years of experience, he has taught voice and rhythm section techniques to students from beginner to professional levels. He has performed and recorded with prestigious ensembles such as UTRGV’s Mariachi Aztlán and Mariachi Sol de Mexico de José Hernández, and has collaborated with renowned artists including Marco Antonio Solís, Pepe Aguilar, Vicente Fernández, and Ana Bárbara.

Alejandro Ascencio is a Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist, singer, and dedicated music educator with over a decade of teaching experience. He began his musical journey at the age of 5 and started touring with some of the best mariachis in the world at just 15. Alejandro has performed with renowned ensembles, including six years with Mariachi Sol de Mexico and time touring with Mariachi Los Camperos. He is a six-time GRAMMY® nominee, recognized for his exceptional contributions to mariachi music. Some of the grandest venues he has performed at include Times Square, The Kennedy Center, The Hollywood Bowl, The White House, and nearly every major city across the United States. Renowned for his versatility and passion, he has earned numerous accolades that celebrate his dedication to the vibrant tradition of mariachi. As an educator, he inspires students to embrace their musical potential while preserving the rich cultural heritage of mariachi through teaching and mentorship.

Priscilla Arasaki is a violinist, mariachi musician, and arts leader based in Colorado. She is a full-time member of Mariachi Las Dahlias, Colorado’s premier all-female mariachi ensemble, and has performed with the group at events including the CPR Holiday Extravaganza, Denver’s 9News, the National Western Stock Show, and the Colorado Governor’s Mansion. Through her performance work, Priscilla is dedicated to expanding the visibility and appreciation of mariachi music across the state.

Priscilla holds a Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Her background includes several years of teaching orchestra and mariachi at the middle and high school levels, experiences that continue to inform her work as a clinician and advocate. She has served as a guest director for honor ensembles and festivals throughout Colorado and has adjudicated for the Colorado CHSAA Mariachi Festival.

Motivated by a desire to support educators and strengthen mariachi education, Priscilla co-founded Cuerdas y Canciones: Center for Mariachi Arts and Culture with Marialuisa Meza Burgos. Through this organization, she helps develop resources, training, and programming that support teachers and students while promoting the growth and sustainability of mariachi throughout Colorado.

Maraluisa Meza-Burgos is a vocalist, musician, and Mariachi with over 20 years of experience specializing in Mariachi music. She is a vocalist and vihuela player for Mariachi Las Dahlias, Colorado’s premier all-female Mariachi ensemble, performing at notable events such as the CPR Holiday Extravaganza, the Mexican Consulate’s Fiesta Patrias, and the National Western Stock Show. Mari earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music from MSU Denver and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre from Naropa University, blending her musical expertise with theatrical performance and storytelling.

Her passion for cultural preservation led her to co-found Cuerdas y Canciones: Center for Mariachi Arts and Culture, an organization dedicated to sustaining and elevating Mariachi traditions for future generations. Through this work, Mari develops teacher training and student programming, helping expand access to authentic Mariachi education across Colorado.
In addition to her Mariachi career, Mari has contributed to the local theater scene, collaborating with companies like Curious Theatre Company and other Denver based theaters as both an actor and musician. Her dual background in music and theater informs her creative approach, allowing her to craft performances and programs that are dynamic, culturally rooted, and deeply engaging.

As a mentor and educator, Mari guides aspiring musicians and cultural leaders, advocating for equity, community connection, and the preservation of cultural heritage. Whether performing on stage, teaching in classrooms, or building programs that honor Mariachi traditions, Mari’s work is driven by a commitment to celebrate, preserve, and share the richness of Mariachi music.