EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – The Hanks High School mariachi program took home top honors at the 2025 UIL State Mariachi Festival championships this past weekend, Ysleta ISD said in a news release.
Hanks High School’s Mariachi Los Trovadores was the only El Paso-area band to receive the festival’s best ratings – a Division I Superior – from all three judges, YISD said.
YISD said that for earning a Division I Superior rating, Mariachi Los Trovadores, under the direction of Orlando Guerrero, received a group award and individual gold medals for each member.
Four other mariachi bands within the district from Del Valle, Eastwood, and Riverside high schools, as well as the Young Women’s Leadership Academy, earned Division II Excellent ratings at the state championships, YISD said.
In addition, YISD said that among all El Paso-area mariachi ensembles that competed at state, YISD students captured eight of the 10 Outstanding Individual Performer awards at the competition, which is now in its sixth year as an official UIL contest.
Outstanding Individual Performer awards went to:
- Violin: Mariafernanda Avila (Eastwood HS) and Shantel Escorza (Del Valle HS)
- Trumpet: Mariana Barbosa, Brandon Flores, Edward Marquez, and Isaac Jara, (all from Del Valle HS)
- Guitarra de Golpe: Jose Carillo (Del Valle HS)
- Vocal: Jason Castillo (Hanks HS)
Ysleta ISD mariachi ensembles that earned a rating of “Excellent” are:
- Del Valle High School’s Mariachi de Los Conquistadores
- Eastwood High School’s Mariachi Reyna
- Riverside High School’s Mariachi Estrella de Riverside
- Young Women’s Leadership Academy’s Cielo Azul
“During the state contest, each mariachi ensemble received a rating of Division I, II, III, IV, or V from each of the three judges based on the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules,” read the news release.
Additionally, YISD said each ensemble received a 30-minute clinic with a nationally recognized mariachi educator/performer after their performance. The focus of this interaction is on musicianship and the artistry of making music, YISD added.
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