July 21st-22nd, 2026
Credit (3 hours per workshop) is provided upon completion of each session.
Free Parking!
Supporting Partners Reuben Carranza & Jim Hoffbauer.
The Avanzando mariachi conference is designed for both students and educators to learn, grow, and be inspired together! Throughout the day, student workshops and educator professional learning sessions will take place simultaneously in different areas of the Tobin Center.
While students participate in interactive workshops with members of Mariachi Los Camperos, educators and directors can engage in professional learning sessions created specifically for music educators. This allows the entire mariachi community to experience meaningful learning opportunities throughout the conference.
The word Avanzando means “advancing” or “moving forward.” In music, it is also a directional term that signals progression—an intentional push ahead in energy, growth, and purpose. This meaning is at the heart of the Avanzando Mariachi Conference: advancing the art of mariachi while uplifting those who teach and perform it.
Avanzando is a mariachi professional development conference designed for both educators and students. This conference was created to provide a space where mariachi educators can become students again—learning, growing, and gaining meaningful resources to take back to their programs. At the same time, students will work alongside master-level musicians to sharpen their skills, strengthen their musicianship, and develop strong rehearsal habits.
This year, Avanzando will welcome seven presenters from Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California. Each will lead sessions on a variety of topics, with the goal of bridging gaps in knowledge for mariachi education in Bexar County and beyond.
- Registration for the conference will be $75 per person for both days. There will also be several opportunities for discounts:
- Bring a co-director or teaching assistant and receive 10% off
- Bring a co-director and an administrator and receive 20% off
- Bring your full team including students and receive 30% off
- Registration fees will also include a ticket to the evening concert by Mariachi Los Camperos on July 22 to conclude the conference.
We have a room block reserved at Hotel Indigo Riverwalk, the preferred hotel for the conference. The hotel is located just a few steps away from where the workshops and professional learning will be held.
Room rates are available ONLY for conference attendees and chaperones. Reservations must be made by July 1, 2026.
Guests may book online using the link below:
Alternatively, individuals may contact the reservations team directly at (210) 527-1900 and provide the following group information:
Group Code: GNX
