What started as an after-school program four years ago is now Richardson ISD’s official mariachi program, part of the Berkner Learning Community.
The program was created after students expressed interest in being part of a Hispanic music group, and teacher Lydia Villarreal, who also happens to be a Berkner High School graduate, was there to make students’ dreams come true.
“From being only an after-school program at Berkner High School, the program has grown into multiple mariachi classes, not only at Berkner, but also classes at each of our feeder junior high schools – Liberty and Apollo,” says Villarreal, Berkner Learning Community’s Mariachi Director. “I feel very fortunate to have so much student interest and community support.”
Berkner now has junior varsity and varsity mariachi groups, while Apollo Junior High is in its second year of offering the program and Liberty Junior High is in its first year. In total, the program includes 85 students and 21 of them are part of the district’s official performing mariachi, Mariachi Orgullo.
“I see so many students and staff taking pride in their heritage,” says Villarreal. “It is so humbling to see my kids spread their culture and have others accept it and embrace it with respect and curiosity. The program has also created a space that honors our heritage while welcoming every student, regardless of background. The students demonstrate respect for our ancestors and those that came before, and perform with such great pride – this is the reason we chose the name, Mariachi Orgullo, orgullo means pride in Spanish.”
While in college at the University of Texas at Austin, Villarreal played with UT’s mariachi. She followed in her brother’s footsteps, who was part of the mariachi at Stanford University.
“Mariachi feels like a family, it brings people together,” says Villarreal. “Once I began playing with the UT mariachi, I knew mariachi was going to be a part of my life forever.”
Villarreal’s big dream is for the mariachi program to grow throughout the district’s learning communities and to be offered in every class period, every day, which would bring in more mariachi educators to RISD!
“Mariachi is more than just a musical group; it is a celebration of culture, heritage, and community,” says Villarreal.
