Mariachi Craze

“Expenses advertising 5,761 travel 11,818 lodging 7,653 liability 800 conference & performance 18,392 bank/credit card charges 93 miscellaneous 722 total 45,239”

“To preserve, promote, and teach the folk music and dance that makes our border culture unique.”

“Mariachi craze hosts two events a year: the el paso border folk festival (bff) music & dance conference and concert series and the cinco de mayo mariachi & folklorico night. Mariachi craze fulfils its mission of preserving and teaching by hiring quality clinicians, presenters and performers. Since inception, the conference has exposed students and the el paso community to grammy award-winning & nominated musicians, walt disney world cast musicians, and professional musicians who have demonstrated proficiency in their craft. The music conference creates a folk festival atmosphere, and opens its doors to students involved in school and community music programs. While the conference is mariachi music based, it is through a variety of music genres that the objective of exposing students and teachers to a broader understanding of music theory, proficiency of technique, stage performance, and further cultivation of music appreciation. In 2024, the conference welcomed grammy-nominated mariachi sol de mexico de jose hernandez. Jose hernandez is a master of mariachi music and is internationally recognized. The group has recorded with the most respected and recognized names in the industry, including, selena, vicente fernandez, luis miguel, bryan adams and the beach boys. Mariachi sol de mexico led a series of clinics and presentations where students engaged with the complex stylistic elements and traditional performance practices of mariachi music. The music conference attracted 300 students from the borderplex region to include el paso, ciudad juarez, las cruces, midland and boulder, co. The concert series is our community outreach, and the way we promote the music and dance that makes our border culture unique. From bluegrass to mariachi, to the sweet, vocal harmonies of the mexican trios romanticos, mariachi craze continues to serenade the el paso community with a rich variety of styles of folk music. In 2024, the concert series continued the cinco de mayo mariachi & folklorico night at the fountains at farah. Local mariachis and ballet folkloricos are offered a paid, stage opportunity where they get to perform before el paso community. The outdoor concert attracted approximately 625 concertgoers from our community. Also in 2024, the 9th annual el paso border folk festival concert headlined the iconic trio los panchos and mariachi sol de mexico. The el paso bff concert attracted 1130 concertgoers held at the beautiful plaza theatre in downtown el paso.”