Ysleta Independent School District students gave stellar performances this past weekend at the 2025 UIL State Mariachi Festival championships, where 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.
Among all El Paso-area mariachi ensembles that competed at state, Ysleta ISD 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.
Four other Ysleta ISD talented mariachi bands 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, which took place Feb. 20-22 and featured performances by ensembles from 96 schools throughout Texas.
For earning a Division I Superior rating, Hanks High School’s Mariachi Los Trovadores – under the direction of Orlando Guerrero – received a group award and individual gold medals for each member.
Outstanding Individual Performer awards went to:
Violin: Mariafernanda Avila (Eastwood HS) & 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.
In addition, 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.
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