UC Irvine's Mariachi Ensemble Grows Campus Presence and Community Reach

UC Irvine’s campus is home to Mariachi Orgullo de UCI, the university’s first mariachi ensemble. Founded in April 2024 by student Brendaitzel Torres, the student-led organization began with the aim of creating a space for connecting with Mexican culture through music. What started with a simple flyer and a QR code has since grown into a 15-member group that performs at UC Irvine, across Orange County, and in neighboring communities.

The ensemble's beginnings were modest. Students initially gathered to rehearse in Aldrich Park, where they learned, practiced, and built their group while managing their academic and personal commitments. Torres, a senior studying criminology, law and society, as well as psychology, had years of experience singing, playing violin, and performing mariachi in high school. She envisioned an organization that could serve as both a musical practice and a tangible link to heritage, something she felt was missing at UC Irvine. Torres recounted feeling a part of herself missing without music and spoke with her mother, which led to the idea of finding other interested students. She organized the initial meeting at the Student Center, noting she was surprised by the number of students interested in participating.

Mariachi Orgullo de UCI, which translates to Mariachi Pride of UCI, brings together students from a wide range of academic disciplines, including criminology, art, psychology, history, mechanical engineering, and Earth system science. The members’ musical backgrounds are equally diverse; some arrived with prior mariachi experience, others had backgrounds in classical, jazz, or concert music, and some had never participated in mariachi before joining.

This blend of backgrounds contributes to the ensemble's role as more than just a performance group. Mariachi Orgullo de UCI offers students a place to learn from one another, exploring culture through sound. For some, it represents a reconnection to traditions from their upbringing, while for others, it is an opportunity to discover a cultural art form for the first time. Sabalyn Castillo, a 19-year-old second-year mathematics major who identifies as half Mexican and half Cambodian, noted that being part of the group has helped her connect with her culture and has made her college life more fulfilling. Castillo explained that during her first year, she struggled to make friends, but her bandmates have provided guidance with classes, internships, and the process of adulthood.

The group’s core mission is rooted in the preservation of mariachi as a tradition, rather than simply music for performance. This tradition is passed down through repertoire, language, instrumentation, performance practices, and community engagement. Mariachi Orgullo de UCI works to keep this alive by learning and performing classic Mexican music, sharing it with both familiar and new audiences. Rafael Francisco Perez, who serves as co-founder and executive director of events and is a senior studying informatics and game design and interactive media, described the organization’s dedication to fostering respect for and understanding of cultures within the campus community and beyond. Perez also highlighted the experience of performing for the Student Housing custodial staff and service workers as particularly rewarding, describing it as a way to show appreciation for their hard work and seeing them sing along.

On campus, the ensemble has become a presence at significant Latino gatherings at UC Irvine. Mariachi Orgullo de UCI performed at La Bienvenida, the university’s welcome event for the Latino community, where they appeared alongside Ballet Folklórico de UCI. They have also performed at the Anteater Involvement Fair, connecting with prospective members, and at La Despedida, an end-of-year commemoration, in collaboration with the Latinx Resource Center and Mesa Unida affiliates. Their performances have extended to UC Irvine’s Día de los Muertos and Nuestra Graduación festivities, linking mariachi music to moments of remembrance, celebration, belonging, and academic achievement. Perez stated that the opportunity to represent mariachi music and the Latino community has enriched his experience at UC Irvine.

Beyond the university grounds, Mariachi Orgullo de UCI’s reach has continued to grow. The students have performed at various venues and events, including the Irvine Barclay Theatre, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, the Downtown Santa Ana ArtWalk, the Long Beach Senior Center, and the investiture ceremony for U.S. District Judge Serena R. Murillo. These performances in local gatherings allow the musical tradition to extend beyond the university and back into the communities from which it originated.

A notable achievement for the ensemble was its serenatas offered for Valentine’s Day this year. Mariachi Orgullo de UCI provided personalized performances to individuals across campus and in nearby cities. A promotional video for this initiative garnered 1.3 million views on TikTok and 619,000 views on Instagram Reels, leading to a significant increase in the group's social media following, from approximately 900 to nearly 10,600. Israel Pastelin booked the ensemble to surprise his daughter for her UC Irvine graduation in June, noting that it was a good way to support the school and students, and that they delivered a wonderful and special performance.

The organization has also received recognition from the city of Irvine, signaling its expanding presence beyond the university. The ensemble, which began as students rehearsing in a park, is now considered an esteemed part of both the university and the broader region. This trajectory culminated in another milestone with their first spring concert in May, held at UC Irvine’s Winifred Smith Hall. This event marked the two-year anniversary of Mariachi Orgullo de UCI. Members dedicated months to funding, organizing, and ultimately selling out their first independent showcase. The concert allowed the group to present its full repertoire, moving beyond shorter performances. Filling the hall with family and community members was described as a profound triumph, demonstrating what they could achieve through collective dedication. Torres articulated the "pride" she feels when playing mariachi music, expressing a part of herself that is close to home and telling stories through song, feeling connected by the audience’s gritos and the encouragement of her fellow musicians.