There are sounds that instantly identify a country the moment they begin to play. A violin, a trumpet, a guitar, a guitarrón, a powerful voice and suddenly, Mexico is present. A key figure in this signature sound is Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, a group formed in the late 19th century in Tecalitlán, Jalisco. For over 125 years, they have turned Mexican music into a true calling card for Mexico on the world stage. Founded by Don Gaspar Vargas, the group began as a small ensemble of local musicians and, over the course of generations, transformed into one of the most important institutions in mariachi music.
It is worth noting that Mariachi Vargas has been linked to patriotic celebrations since its earliest years. Mexico’s Secretariat of Culture records that on September 15, 1898, the group received official approval to perform during Tecalitlán’s patriotic festivities. More than a century later, that connection between mariachi, celebration, and Mexican pride remains alive, and the group continues to make history.
Spanning six generations, the Mariachi group helped shape the signature sound we now recognize as an essential part of Mexico’s musical identity. Their legacy includes collaborations and performances alongside icons such as Pedro Infante, Jorge Negrete, José Alfredo Jiménez, Juan Gabriel, Linda Ronstadt, and Luis Miguel, as well as an impressive presence in Mexican cinema, with their music featured in nearly 200 films.
The songs and arrangements that are now part of the Mexican musical consciousness helped carry this tradition to new generations and international stages. That is why, when we hear a mariachi band performing a song we have known since childhood, we are hearing far more than just music. We are hearing a tradition passed down through generations, one that achieved something extraordinary: maintaining its roots while continuing to evolve.
Now, that entire history comes to The Soraya in Los Angeles for “El Grito,” a celebration uniting music, culture, tradition, and Mexican pride. A night to shout “Viva México!” 🇲🇽
The performance takes place on Thursday, September 24, at 8:00 p.m., as part of The Soraya’s first “El Grito” Mexican civic celebration. The date falls just days after September 16, when Mexico celebrates its Independence and commemorates the historic 1810 call to action that became a defining symbol of national identity.
For those who grew up listening to these songs, it will be a night to remember. For those who discovered them through parents, grandparents, friends, movies, or favorite artists, it is a chance to hear up close one of the groups that helped shape that iconic sound. And for new generations, it is an opportunity to experience a Mexican tradition live, fueled by the energy of a major stage.
Because mariachi music still moves us to sing, dance, reminisce, and celebrate.
🏛️ The Soraya: Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts
📅 Thursday, September 24, 2026
⏰ 8:00 p.m.
📍 18111 Nordhoff St, Northridge, CA 91330
🎫 For tickets, click here: TheSoraya.org
📞 Tel. 818 677 3000
If you want to feel the spirit of Mexico through its music, this is a night not to be missed.
Let the trumpets sound, let the violins sing, y que viva Mexico! 🇲🇽🎺🎻
