Two faces of mariachi's future

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Teens from San Antonio and Odessa share an affinity for Mexican music genre

The mention of mariachi music conjures up images of Mexican troubadours decked out in full regalia with elaborately adorned outfits and wide sombreros. The music they perform, the ranchera love songs with their lilting vocal harmonies, muted guitar chords adorned with the romantic vibrato of violins, is a familiar fixture here in Texas.

And while small mariachi quartets and quintets are common at Cinco de Mayo celebrations and the occasional weddings, it isn't as common to see a mariachi group with a full complement of musicians — six violins, two trumpets, harp, guitar, guitarrón and vihuela. One group, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, has been developing and refining this majestic sound for a century.

Formed in 1897, the group has been a vessel of Mexican culture, passing along its musical traditions through the generations beginning with founder Gaspar Vargas handing the reigns to his son Silvestre Vargas in 1931. The family tradition carried on when Jose Martinez Sr., the group's musical director since 1975, welcomed his son Jose Jr. into the group in 1993.

Today the group is reaching out to a new generation of mariachi performers through the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza held annually in San Antonio.

At the 2000 Extravaganza, San Antonio native Victoria Acosta won the coveted 'Best in Show' prize at the age of 8. Victoria went on to record pop music for a time, but at 17 has returned to mariachi music.

In 2007, 17-year-old Esteban Velasquez was named 'Best Vocalist in the United States' by Mariachi Vargas. A relative unknown, Velasquez came all the way from Odessa to compete against many of San Antonio's hometown favorites and subsequently competed on TV Azteca's 'La Academia,' Mexico's version of 'American Idol,' where he made it to the Top 10.

Both will open Saturday night's performance at The Long Center with the University of Texas' mariachi group. We had the opportunity to speak with both performers about their love of mariachi music and the thrill of performing with the renowned Mariachi Vargas.

American-Statesman: How did you begin performing mariachi music?

Victoria Acosta: I was inspired by Patty Torres, who I saw performing at Fiesta Texas one year. I remember she invited all the little kids up on stage to dance and I went. After that I knew I wanted to perform, and by the age of 6, I was in an all-girl mariachi group.

Esteban Velazquez:I've always liked Mexican culture and music. I was involved in ballet folklorico at a young age and in the fifth grade won a talent show performing in the full mariachi traje – the traditional costume. Then in junior high school I was part of a mariachi program that was so popular it was transferred to the high school in Odessa.

Is mariachi music popular with young people?

Velazquez: It wasn't when I started, but I've seen it become more popular recently. At shows you see a real mix of old and young people in the crowd. It's still not nearly as popular as pop music, though. I performed at the Billboard Latin Music Conference and was the only mariachi performer there.

Acosta:In San Antonio, some of the mariachi programs in the schools are starting to become popular. People my age are curious about their heritage, and the music connects us to that. Mariachi music is really storytelling, and as Hispanics, we carry our heritage and our culture through our stories.

What are you learning from touring with the Mariachi Vargas performers?

Acosta:They are the rock stars of the mariachi world, so it's a great honor to open up for them. They are my idols, and it's been wonderful to tour with them. One thing I've really learned is a deep respect for my culture.

What are your musical ambitions for the future?

Acosta:I graduate high school this year. and eventually I plan on attending the University of Texas in Austin to study linguistics. I'd like to be work as a translator. I still plan on performing, though. Mariachi is my first love, and I'll always pursue that.

Velazquez: I am enjoying performing, but I'm also working on recording a CD. I've been told that it's difficult to sell a lot of CDs in this market, but I want to change that. I want to show the mariachi world something new and become the voice of a new generation

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