The Mariachi Sol Rojo school band, at Robstown Early College High School recently earned a First Division at the UIL Regional Mariachi Festival.
Band members said they are doing more to preserve their culture than music.
Robstown Early College High School senior Vivian Flores said she has been in the mariachi band since middle school.
“It’s everywhere you go, restaurants, quinceañeras , family traditions, everywhere you go there is always going to be a mariachi so being a part of it, you are doing the right thing and keeping it going,” Flores said.
Flores said she thought it was important to keep her Hispanic culture alive because her mother would do folkloric when she was younger.
“She loves it, she very much loves the fact that I do mariachi, and just keeping my heritage alive and keeping my family legacy going,” Flores said. “Even if I am not a part of folkloric, I am just keeping my Hispanic heritage alive.”
High school mariachi band director Miguel Cabrera said students are learning more than just the music they play.