Charros y Clásicos

Meet Nathan Fernandez, a remarkable talent whose musical journey bridges two worlds – the rich mariachi traditions of his family and the prestigious international stage of Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández.

In this deeply personal conversation, Nathan reveals his childhood experiences standing beside his father at performances from the tender age of four, toy violin in hand, trying to mimic his father's mannerisms. However, his path wasn't straightforward – for years, Nathan struggled with the tension between family musical obligations and his passion for soccer. "I hated the fact that I had to miss games," he conf...

The path to musical excellence rarely follows a straight line. For Eloy Garza, director of Roma High School's celebrated mariachi program, that journey weaves through personal struggles, unexpected opportunities, and the profound impact of mentorship that transformed a shy trumpet player into an award-winning educator.

Growing up in a household filled with music, Garza was surrounded by family traditions dating back to his great-grandfather. Yet his story isn't one of natural talent, but rather determination. "I was not the type that was very talented, but I work at it," he shares candidly, describing how he had to...

Clyde Guerra never planned to become an award-winning mariachi director. His early musical journey began at age nine with a guitar class called "Las Guitarritas," leading to his first vocal competition win at a local livestock show. Surrounded by the sounds of Linda Ronstadt and Vicente Fernández in his grandmother's home, young Clyde was steered toward violin by a prescient voice teacher who told him it would give him better opportunities to showcase his vocal abilities.

Throughout our conversation, Clyde reveals the fascinating twists in his path – from his years as a standout performer in Roma Hig...

The pathway to passion often begins with reluctance. In this heartfelt conversation, acclaimed musician and educator Karina Vela reveals how being forced to take guitar lessons instead of joining the basketball team as a child in Matamoros, Mexico, planted the seeds for a transformative musical journey.

"I was forced into music, not pushed," Vela laughs, recounting the maternal decision that changed her life trajectory. What began with tearful guitar practices while watching friends play basketball through the window evolved into a profound love for mariachi music after her family immigrated to the United States when she was...

The cultural disconnect in the Rio Grande Valley has long been a fascinating paradox: Brownsville celebrates its Mexican heritage with festivals like Charro Days, yet for years lacked the educational infrastructure to nurture mariachi musicians – until Abigail Gonzalez arrived with a vision to change everything.

Abigail's remarkable journey begins in La Joya, Texas, where she grew up surrounded by music and participated in one of the Rio Grande Valley's pioneering mariachi programs. Her determination was evident early – famously learning guitar in just two weeks as a high school freshman because she refused to let her mariachi dreams slip...

Alex Treviño II's journey from a small-town violinist to performing with the Grammy-winning Mariachi Los Camperos represents the beautiful intersection of family legacy, personal determination, and cultural heritage. In a recent conversation, Alex shared insights into his remarkable path that began long before he was born – with his parents meeting in their high school mariachi class.

Unlike many musicians who come from musical families, Alex's story is uniquely steeped in mariachi tradition from conception. Both his parents were violinists in the same mariachi group, creating what would become a multi-generational family of violinists. This foundation provided Ale...

Alex Treviño's first encounter with mariachi wasn't love at first sight—it was a reluctant step taken at his mother's insistence during his sophomore year of high school. Today, as the head mariachi director at McAllen High School and a performer with Grammy-nominated Mariachi Los Arreros del Valle, he laughs about that initial resistance. "I didn't want to join," he recalls, "but after one competition, I was hooked."

This transformation from reluctance to passion frames Treviño's remarkable 25-year journey through mariachi performance and education. From his early days with UTPA's mariachi program to co-founding Mariachi Los...

In this episode of Charros Y Clasicos, a Bosky Strings Podcast, hosts Miguel and Joel interview Mayra Garcia-Adame, a renowned mariachi director at Mariachi Los Lobos de Palmview High School and founder of Mariachi Mariposa, an award winning all-female mariachi. Mayra shares her inspiring story of overcoming adversity and becoming an influential leader in the mariachi world. She discusses her upbringing, the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated industry, and her passion for promoting diversity and inclusion in the arts. Through her experiences and insights, listeners will gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural significance of...

Dr. Dahlia Guerra, a native of Edinburg, Texas, talks about the ongoing FESTIBA Festival, which promotes child literacy and takes us through the years with Mariachi Aztlán of UTRGV. 

Corine Maldonado, the founder of Starr Music Academy, shares her story of how she discovered her passion for music education and how she turned that passion into a successful business.