03
January
2020
|
11:10 AM
America/Chicago

UHD Mariachi Band Making Concert Debut

Mariachi Los Caimanes Campus Performance on Jan. 15

Summary

By Mike Emery

The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is kicking off 2020 in musical style by hosting the debut concert from its new student mariachi group.

Mariachi Los Caimanes (Spanish for The Gators) will make its concert debut at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 15 in UHD’s Wilhelmina Cullen Robertson Auditorium. This performance is free and open to the public. Reservations can be made here

Comprised of more than 20 students from varied musical backgrounds, the group came together during the fall 2019 semester after encouragement from UHD President, Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz. Directing the ensemble is Jose Vazquez, assistant director of Student Activities.

“It has been a thrill to see the growth of the students and the ensemble,” said Vazquez, who comes from an extensive musical background. “There is a wide ranging display of talent among these musicians, and it has been a pleasure to put it all together.”

Mariachi Los Caimanes, supported by the Office of Student Affairs, made its public debut on Halloween 2019 to honor the Day of the Dead celebrations. Since that initial performance, the group has been rehearsing diligently to prepare for its first full concert. That debut performance (which took place in the Mural area) and its practice sessions have generated a buzz among the UHD Community.

“I cannot count how many phones were livestreaming during our first unofficial performance on Halloween,” he said. “And during our earliest rehearsals, it was not uncommon for folks walking down the hallway to step in and watch what we were doing.”

According to Vazquez, concert-goers on Jan. 15 should expect mariachi standards, as well as contemporary pieces with new arrangements. More importantly, he noted that the audience should anticipate a fun event that not only showcases music, but the joy it brings to the community.

“As a Hispanic Serving Institution, a mariachi group is important for several reasons,” he said. “It fosters a sense of pride in the school and serves as a wonderful connection to the surrounding community. I've already witnessed how this group has become a support system for the students who are part of Mariachi Los Caimanes. Seeing friendships forged over music is awesome to see, and audiences will soon see this for themselves.”

About the University of Houston-Downtown

The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.

U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions: No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.