Introducing Mariachi Águilas de Oro: HCC’s first mariachi ensemble

The sounds of violins, trumpets, guitarróns and audience applause filled the Wortham Theater on Aug. 28 as Houston City College’s (HCC’s) newly formed student mariachi ensemble, Mariachi Águilas de Oro (Golden Eagles), made its public debut at the annual Houston Mariachi Festival.

The performance marked a historic milestone for HCC, bringing to life a vision more than a year in the making.

“Mariachi is more than music. It’s a bridge between heritage and hope,” said HCC Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher, Ed.D. “Through this new ensemble, our students are finding their voice, strengthening their connection to HCC and carrying forward a tradition that reminds us that belonging is at the heart of student success.”

For the student musicians who took the stage alongside the University of Houston’s Mariachi Pumas, the performance represented more than a musical achievement. It was an opportunity to share their culture, connect with audiences and display their passion for mariachi music.

“I love to be able to express my feelings through my instrument, the violin, and being able to sing to people,” said Isaias Luis-Torres, lead singer and group president, who has been playing mariachi since high school. “I love to see how much the music impacts their lives. Sometimes people cry. Sometimes people laugh. It’s amazing to see.” 

For Luis-Torres and his bandmates, the performance capped months of rehearsals and a shared commitment to preserving a cultural tradition deeply rooted in Houston’s East End and beyond.

From Vision to Reality 

Mariachi Águilas de Oro began with a simple but ambitious idea: create a mariachi program that would celebrate cultural heritage while fostering student engagement, belonging and pathways to four-year institutions. 

Encouraged by Dr. Ford Fisher and HCC alumnus Ben Mendez, college leaders worked to turn that vision into a reality. 

“I see this inaugural ensemble and performance as a powerful expression of what student success can look like when culture, community and opportunity come together,” said HCC Southeast President Frances Villagran-Glover, D.A.

Mariachi Águilas de Oro originated as a club with nearly a dozen students, including graduates of Cesar Chávez, Carver and Klein Collins High Schools, as well as Kinder HSPVA. The ensemble is open to all HCC students who wish to learn mariachi music and culture, regardless of academic major or previous musical experience. Current members are pursuing studies in engineering, business and other academic pathways. 

"This is open to everyone who wants to play mariachi music but also to learn about the history and culture of mariachi," said Martin Perez, Ed.D., dean of Student Success at HCC Southeast.

That sense of connection extends beyond the rehearsal room. Mariachi provides a way to honor family traditions and share a musical heritage with new audiences. 

HCC student Josue Ramirez has been playing mariachi since he was 10 and sees the music as a family tradition both at home and on campus.

“When you are up there playing and doing something you enjoy, something magical happens that brings forth emotion and lets you release emotions as well,” Ramirez said. “The audience feels that. You see it in their smiles. You see their faces in awe. You see them feel all these different emotions, and it’s great to share that sort of energy.”

Through rehearsals and performances, students are building leadership, teamwork and confidence. 

Building a Legacy

The group’s first public appearance at the Mariachi Festival is only the beginning.

While Mariachi Águilas de Oro currently operates as a student club, HCC leaders envision growing the ensemble into a formalized program modeled after successful university-based mariachi programs, including the ones at UH and University of Houston-Downtown. 

The group also serves as a visible ambassador for HCC, representing the college at cultural celebrations, recruitment events, community festivals, graduations and outreach activities. 

Support for the program

A key factor in launching the Mariachi Águilas de Oro was support from the HCC Foundation, which provided funding for the group’s uniforms. The investment helped ensure students could perform with professionalism and pride while eliminating financial barriers to participation. The organization is open to all students.

The HCC-blue uniforms with gold trim allow students to represent the college with distinction while honoring and preserving the mariachi tradition for future generations. 

“We are not just representing HCC, we are representing a culture,” Luis-Torres added. “All the performers who have done it way before us have played all those beautiful notes before us. We have to continue preserving those beautiful notes.”