Ensemble Concert Series: TCU Mariachi Sangre Royal  

/

TCU Mariachi Sangre Royal members

Enjoy an evening of musical excellence with the Ensemble Concert Series: Mariachi Band on Wednesday, April 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the Van Cliburn Concert Hall.

“We want to teach our audience about the beauty of mariachi and develop their musical appreciation for the genre,” said Imelda Martinez, adjunct professor of the TCU Mariachi Sangre Royal. 

The mariachi program started as a student group and is now an official ensemble and course in the School of Music. Mariachi Sangre Royal is under the direction of Imelda Martinez and Ramon Nino, instructors of the nationally acclaimed Mariachi Espuelas de Plata at North Side High School.

History of TCU Mariachi Sangre Royal 

Laura Singletary, assistant professor and division chair of music education, has collaborated with Martinez since 2020 to research the teaching methods that have shaped Mariachi Espuelas de Plata’s spectacular success.

Imelda Martinez, adjunct professor of the TCU Mariachi Sangre Royal.

Imelda Martinez, adjunct professor of the TCU Mariachi Sangre Royal.

Singletary’s extensive research began from wanting to develop an acute understanding of mariachi and prepare her students for a career in music education. She partnered with Martinez and Ramon Nino, the Mariachi Espuelas de Plata’s director, to bring the dynamic teaching model to TCU’s Mariachi Sangre Royal.

Singletary pitched her research to Sean Atkinson, the director of the School of Music, to show the importance of developing a course for TCU’s Mariachi Sangre Royal with Martinez and Nino as the professors.

This is their second semester on campus and the first official semester as an accredited course. The mariachi class is also available to Tarrant County College students through the extended education program. Mariachi Sangre Royal is open to any student interested in learning more about the genre. Ensemble members include students across academic fields and musical experience.

“Mariachi began as a dream and it is now an ensemble of 24 students.” 

Q&A with Imelda Martinez

What is the mission of Mariachi Sangre Royal?
We hope to educate students and our community about the art of mariachi and expand their musical abilities through a culturally rich music genre.

What is a recent accomplishment of the ensemble?
We are proud of our students representing the ensemble in the community. Students performed at the Majestic Theater in Dallas with renowned Mariachi Sol de Mexico and premiered their TCU trajes (uniforms).

What do you hope is Mariachi Sangre Royal’s lasting impact on campus?
We hope Mariachi Sangre Royal continues to create an appreciation for a culturally driven music genre. We hope this encourages students from diverse backgrounds to apply and know they will be accepted on campus.

Join us for the “Ensemble Concert Series: Mariachi Band.”

See the calendar for upcoming events.