The Socorro Independent School District will be represented in a big way at the 2023 UIL State Mariachi Festival when all six SISD comprehensive high school mariachi ensembles compete Feb. 24 and 25 in Seguin, Texas.
Americas High School Mariachi Los Pioneros, Eastlake High School Mariachi Falco, El Dorado High School Mariachi Azteca, Montwood High School Mariachi Sangre Mexicana, Pebble Hills High School Mariachi Los Guerreros, and Socorro High School Los Gavilanes, qualified for the state level competition when they competed alongside 24 other groups from across the area and received a sweepstakes rating at the annual UIL Area Mariachi Festival Jan. 28.
“We are extremely proud of all of our programs and all the hard work they have put in to make this happen,” said SISD Fine Arts director Armando Martinez. “Their dedication to their craft and excellence is being recognized and these programs now have the opportunity to showcase this talent at the state level.”
The SISD mariachi ensembles are in good company as they compete among the top mariachi groups in the state. Notably, Socorro High School’s Los Gavilanes have taken a Division 1 trophy home three times in the last four years.
SISD is the only district in the city to have all participating schools advance to state and the most from any single district in the area.
“SISD takes pride in the fact that we are the only district in the El Paso area with mariachi programs at every high school and wish them all the best of luck at the state festival,” Martinez said.
Published February 14, 2023
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