Ten years ago, 55 Texas schools competed at the UIL state mariachi event. This year, 100 campuses took the stage, roughly 50% growth in a single decade. The milestone says a lot about how Texas schools are making room for cultural music alongside the traditional band and choir lineup.

Much of the story runs through Fox Tech High School in San Antonio, where David Zamarripa has directed the mariachi program for more than 30 years. Zamarripa played in his own middle school’s first mariachi group and served on the committee that launched the UIL competition. Today his program serves over 300 students, including Belen Gonzalez, who makes a 40-minute drive from Poteet to participate.

The roots go back to 1970, when Belle San Miguel Ortiz started the nation’s first mariachi class at Lanier High School, earning her the title “Madrina of Mariachi education.” Zamarripa’s message to students echoes that legacy: you can go anywhere and never be ashamed of your culture or where you come from. With 100 campuses now competing, that message is traveling farther than ever. Should more local schools add mariachi to their music offerings? Let us know what you think.