This US university is turning sombreros and string sections into a full-blown degree in mariachi
Forget everything you thought you knew about college music programmes—Metropolitan State University of Denver is rewriting the score. With Colorado's very first Mariachi Performance and Culture degree, students can now major in a genre where violins, trumpets, and cultural pride take centre stage.
This programme goes beyond simply teaching the music; it dives deep into the roots and meaning behind the mariachi tradition. And yes, sombreros and traditional attire are very much part of the full mariachi experience.
This new major is the first of its kind in Colorado and aims to blend musical performance, cultural studies, and business skills into one comprehensive degree. The university is positioning itself as a hub for mariachi education in the US, hoping to attract students from across the country.
Blending music, culture and business
The Mariachi Performance and Culture degree isn't just about playing instruments and singing. Students take courses in music theory, voice, guitar, and traditional mariachi instruments like the guitarrón and vihuela. But the curriculum also includes classes in Chicano history, Spanish language, contemporary Mexican literature, marketing, and business fundamentals.
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Philip Ficsor, a music professor at MSU Denver and one of the faculty members who helped develop the programme, told the The Denver Post, 'What we're really trying to create here is the Juilliard of mariachi. That's our goal in Denver.'
From a student club to a pioneering degree
The mariachi programme began as a student club founded by music professor and cultural advocate Lorenzo Trujillo. What started as a club grew into a class, and from there blossomed into a full degree programme.
MSU Denver has been a leader in mariachi education for years. In 2023, the university sponsored the first youth all-state mariachi ensemble, Mariachi Estelares de Colorado. Trujillo told the The Denver Post in 2016 that he was training students to share mariachi's musical and cultural heritage with youth across Denver.
A new sense of belonging and opportunity
For students like Ruby Godoy Flores, mariachi is about more than music—it's about identity and community.
As the secretary of the mariachi ensemble, she told the university publication, 'There's nothing like it in Colorado. It's going to bring in a lot of people, not just from here but from other states, too. Some people might not want to go to Texas or New Mexico. Now, they have another option,' as reported by the The Denver Post.
The degree is expected to attract students nationwide, offering a unique educational experience that merges performance with cultural understanding and business skills.
Graduates will be equipped to carry mariachi's tradition forward while navigating careers in music, education, and cultural promotion.
By officially recognising mariachi as a serious academic discipline, MSU Denver is setting a precedent in US higher education. The programme ensures students graduate not only with musical talent but also with a deep appreciation for mariachi's origins and its continuing cultural impact.
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