LOCAL MUSICIANS
Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos has a mariachi program, and one of its violinists and vocalists recently received a stellar recognition for her hard work. Cecilia Barrientos has been playing music since she was two years old, and all that hard work and dedication has paid off as she just placed first in a recent competition.
Barrientos didn’t get into mariachi by choice — at first; she just needed an elective course, and mariachi fit into her schedule.
“Then I really fell in love with it because I was influenced by it growing up,” Barrientos said. “Then it was just something that I found myself wanting to do more in the future.”
And she’s stuck with it for three years now.
“Her passion is mariachi music,” said Gloria Salazar, Centro office coordinator. “She is serious about her commitment to the time necessary to excel as a violinist and a vocalist.”
All that dedication has led to recognition for her talent.
“I recently participated in the Noche de Gala competition in Seguin,” Barrientos said. “I placed first place in the middle school category.”
Salazar said Barrientos provides direction and assistance to beginner violinists in addition to being a multi-award winning musician.
“Cecilia has been the First Place winner in the Middle School category for 2024 and 2025 for the Annual Noche de Gala Competencia de Vocalistas in Seguin,” Salazar said. “She is also the First Place winner in the Middle School category for the 2023 and 2024 Voz de la Paloma: Vocal Competition & Homenaje a Beatriz Llamas in San Antonio.”
Barrientos is grateful to her mother Angelina Corrujedo and Centro.
“Without that push from my mom, I don’t think I would be here today. I wanted to give thanks to her, and then thanks to Centro for giving me the opportunities that I’m able to utilize to get out there [and play mariachi].”
Salazar said the Youth Mariachi program at Centro is for third grade to high school students and includes Beginner Violin, Beginner Guitar, Mariachi Infantil, Mariachi Juvenil de Plata — Elementary grades — and Mariachi Juvenil de Oro — Middle School and High School grades. The Mariachi Juvenil de Plata and Mariachi Juvenil de Oro perform publicly for community and business events. There is an end of the semester recital open to the public, which is held at the San Marcos Public Library.
“Learning mariachi music allows students, especially those of Mexican descent to connect with their heritage and culture and learn about their history and traditions,” Salazar said. “Learning to read and memorize their music and developing the discipline and time management to pursue their learning can also affect and reflect in their academic work and home life. Their creativity and self expression are engaged, increasing their confidence and self esteem.”
Centro’s mariachi program is funded by the city of San Marcos, the San Marcos Arts Commission and The Burdine Johnson Foundation.
