Feel Good Story: Mariachi at THS Offers New Opportunity for Students to Embrace Heritage

August 23, 2024
Mariachi at THS Offers New Opportunity for Students to Embrace Heritage

Critical to the success of Tomball ISD is the commitment the District has for innovative new opportunities for its students. Cultivating an environment where all students feel welcomed and a celebration of heritage and culture is appreciated, Tomball ISD is excited to welcome Mariachi, a new Fine Arts program, to Tomball High School.

Superintendent Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora felt a personal connection to Mariachi and continued to advocate for a program in Tomball ISD. When new Director of Fine Arts Paulette Tomlinson took over in 2023-2024, she was tasked with starting a program.

Dr. Z and Tomlinson, along with the support of the Tomball ISD School Board, Tomball High School Administration and Music Team and the TISD Cabinet, made this dream a reality.

“Expanding Fine Arts offerings to reach more students and to allow them opportunities to explore their own heritage as well as the heritage of their classmates and friends was our goal,” Tomlinson said. “Mariachi is the perfect vehicle to accomplish that. I believe every student can find a home in Fine Arts, and Dr. Z’s vision aligned with that philosophy.”

In its first year, this program has welcomed 19 students, and is off to a strong start, led by Mariachi teacher Miguel Aguirre.

“We had to find the person who was just right to not only connect with our students but establish a tradition here in Tomball that will live on for years to come,” Tomlinson said of the hiring of Aguirre. “When we interviewed Mr. Aguirre from the Rio Grande Valley, I knew he was the perfect fit. He told me his goal was to start “Mariachi Fever” here in Tomball – and he did!”

An experienced Mariachi himself, Aguirre joined Tomball ISD from the Rio Grande Valley where he has taught Mariachi for over five years. He began playing himself in middle school, and took his talent into high school and college where he performed for Edinburg North High School and in various groups, including the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Mariachi Juvenil Azztlan and Mariachi Manantial De Salvacion de Fernando Fernandez.

Through his experiences, Aguirre shares a passion for teaching and celebrating Mariachi.

“The goal of the program is to offer students the new opportunity to play Mariachi music while understanding the culture and prestige of the music,” Aguirre said. “Through performances and contests they will pay respects to the genre and enrich the community with the vibrant sound of the ensemble.”

And while this art may be new to most, these Tomball ISD Mariachi students are passionate and eager to learn. “I can tell already that Mr. Aguirre has the ability to make students feel comfortable in learning something completely new while pushing them to get better every day,” Tomlinson said.

Just like most fine arts music disciplines in Tomball ISD, Mariachi is a competitive event in Texas UIL. These students will eventually compete at the state level, and while competition season is a time to celebrate achievements, Aguirre and his students are already achieving so much.

“By the end of the school year, Tomball High School will have seen the first generation of the mariachi program, where the student will have bloomed into an authentic Mariachi musician playing all sorts of Mariachi music,” said Aguirre.