Tucson will once again be filled with traditional Mexican music and dancing when the Tucson International Mariachi Conference comes to town. Events run every evening beginning Wednesday, April 29 — some free to attend — through a Mariachi Mass at noon Sunday, May 3.
More than 1,300 students will attend from local and international companies and bands to learn from master mariachi musicians and folklórico dance experts. This is nothing new for Tucson — the conference began here in 1983. With some missed years during the pandemic, this is the 44th time Tucson will host the event.
“Especially in Tucson there’s this rich culture of mariachi and folklórico,” Chantal Ralls said.
At least two Tucsonans share a long history with the conference. Ralls and Fernando Moreno both began their music and folklórico journeys here.
Ralls, who in her other life is an assistant principal at C.E. Rose PreK-8 School, organizes the folklórico side of the conference. She has been preparing the dance program since last summer.
Ralls was in sixth grade at Valencia Middle School when she was invited to try folklórico dancing. She has not missed a conference since — more than 25 years of learning, teaching and performing.
“I fell in love,” she said. “I feel like it’s really impacted my life and so I became a folklórico teacher in the schools.”
One day 16 years ago, a graduating high school student told Ralls she didn’t want to stop dancing, so Ralls founded Compañía de Danza Folklórica Arizona with the help of community parents. By the end of the first year there were 80 members. Today there are 177 students enrolled.
Ralls said a person is never too young to learn folklórico, so she has classes for toddlers. What do they learn? They learn to stay in a line and how to balance their bodies. They even wear traditional costumes.
“The toddlers are the star of the show,” Ralls said. “They are so cute.”
For the conference, students will attend workshops taught by masters of the craft.
“It’s a three-day workshop where we have instructors come, they’re master-level instructors and they’re teaching the different levels,” Ralls said. “Each level provides the students with a different region.”
Beyond her love of the art form, Ralls teaches for another reason.
“I always tell my students that’s the most beautiful thing, keeping (the Mexican cultural traditions) alive,” she said.
Headlining the conference is Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández. Among its singers and violinists is Fernando Moreno, another Tucson native. He attended the first Tucson mariachi conference as a student with the Changuitos Feos and later became a member of Mariachi Cobre.
Moreno’s journey to mariachi began around age 10, in fifth grade at Mission Manor Elementary School, when he wound up with a violin.
“The elementary school that I went to, they offered either band or orchestra, and I wanted to play guitar,” he said. “They didn’t have guitar, so I thought, oh well, I’ll just get the closest instrument to guitar, but unknowingly it was really super difficult.”
Still, he kept at it — even when his family had other opinions.
“When I was a kid, I used to love to practice,” Moreno said. “My parents would yell at me, ‘Be quiet!'”
He kept going, adding voice lessons along the way.
“I still even now take voice lessons,” he said. “It’s something you really want to do your best.”
Attending the mariachi conference in Tucson helped shape his ambitions.
“When the mariachi conference started happening in Tucson you see all these groups and they’re professional and I think that’s really what inspired me to do it. … Plus, I think when music is in you, you don’t want to leave it.”
Interestingly, Moreno’s family isn’t particularly musical. His dad can sing and play guitar in the backyard.
“I was the first one,” he said.
Moreno and Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández will not only perform — the group will also teach workshops.
Moreno no longer lives in Tucson but in California, so the visit means time with his brother and his brother’s kids. Still, there’s something else he’s been looking forward to.
“I get to taste the food,” he said, laughing. “It’s so good.”
At 60, Moreno has had a long career in music and knows that people come and go. He has advice for students.
“I’ve always seen people audition but maybe it wasn’t their time,” he said. “But everybody has their time and I think you just have to just keep on working and do what you do and somebody will notice you.”
A Night with Maestro Magallanes
WHEN: 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 29
WHERE: Doubletree Hotel Ballroom, 280 S. Church Avenue
COST: Free but seating is limited
INFO: tucsonmariachi.org/magallanes-session/
El Mariachi Canta Competition 2026
WHEN: 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, April 29
WHERE: MSA Annex, 267 S. Avenida del Convento
COST: free/children 7 and younger, $12.51/children 8 to 17 and $23.18/ adults 18 to 64
INFO: tucsonmariachi.org/singing-competition/
The Armando C. Gonzales Student Showcase on Thursday, April 30 is SOLD OUT.
Espectacular Concert featuring Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, May 1
WHERE: TCC Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, 260 S. Church Avenue
COST: Tickets start at $64.55
INFO: tucsonmariachi.org/tickets
Fiesta de Garibaldi
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 2
WHERE: Jacome Plaza, 101 N. Stone Avenue
COST: Free/children 7 and younger, $10/children 8 to 18, $20/adults and $10/adults older than 65; tickets will be available to purchase at the door, no refunds
INFO: tucsonmariachi.org/fiesta-garibaldi/
Mariachi Mass
WHEN: noon, Sunday, May 3
WHERE: St. Augustine Cathedral, 192 S. Stone Avenue
COST: Free
INFO: tucsonmariachi.org/mariachi-mass/ or call 520-838-3913