Edinburg North High School's Mariachi Oro

Edinburg North High School's Mariachi Oro is the subject of the 2023 film "Going Varsity In Mariachi". Edinburg North HS is in Edinburg, TX, about 17 miles north of the US/Mexican border. The mariachi program was started the same year the school was opened in September 1991. Throughout the years and with determined direction, Mariachi Oro de ENHS grew to one of the best in their region, state and beyond. Mariachi Oro is currently under the direction of Mr. Abel Acuña. He took over the position in 2010 as a Band Director and had the mariachi as an after school extra-curricular club. He was able to grow the program and made the mariachi into a co-curricular class within a short 4 year span. Under his guidance, Mariachi Oro has been named Texas State Champion, Runner-Up and Second Runner-Up several times, only placing under third place twice in fourteen years. Since the University Interscholastic League (UIL) adopted mariachi, Mariachi Oro de ENHS has gotten Straight Superior Ratings seven of the eight years with one Excellent Rating. In 2015, Mariachi Oro de ENHS was chosen out of 40+ groups to represent the United States and Mexico in the Iguazu En Concierto Youth Music Festival in Puerto Iguazu, Misiones, Argentina. The following year in 2016, they won Overall Grand Champions with the highest score at the Mariachi Spectacular in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 2019, film directors Mr. Sam Osborn and Ms. Alejandra Vasquez reached out to Mr. Acuña to do a short film to highlight the fact that mariachi is being recognized by UIL the way marching band and football is, while following the life of a student that participates in this mariachi ensemble. Through it's success and after getting to know Mr. Acuña and all the members of Mariachi Oro, an idea was sparked, and a few years later, the documentary film Going Varsity In Mariachi was born.