9th Annual International Mariachi Women’s Festival celebrated Mariachi Women from Guadalajara, Mexico
The ninth installation of the annual International Mariachi Women’s Festival was held on Sunday, November 20, 2022 at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Downtown L.A. to a packed crowd of mariachi loving fans. This year, the festival featured a mariachi music extravaganza with three phenomenal mariachi women ensembles, including two guest performers from Guadalajara, Mexico: Mariachi Femenil Nuevo Tecalitlán and Mariachi Femenil Innovación Mexicana; and the two-time GRAMMY award-winning Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea that rounded out a night of the best in mariachi women’s performances in Los Angeles.
“I am thrilled that two of the best mariachi women’s groups in Mexico joined us this year” commented Dr. Leonor Xóchitl Pérez, founder and director of the International Mariachi Women’s Festival and executive director of the Mariachi Women’s Foundation. “Mariachi Femenil Nuevo Tecalitlán thrilled with their traditional mariachi style while Mariachi Femenil Innovación Mexicana entertained the audience with contemporary music performed in the mariachi style. In fact, this group’s video of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ went viral and put them on the global map. Every year, we aim to build a beautiful celebration and invite guests to join the festival in empowering mariachi women as they keep our beautiful mariachi tradition alive and share it with the world.”
The festival was livestreamed for those unable to attend in person and welcomed close to 1,000 guests for the evening’s performances.
The annual festival is presented by the Mariachi Women’s Foundation – a non-profit organization that recognizes and empowers mariachi women throughout the world. Founded and directed by Dr. Pérez recognized by Hispanic Lifestyle as a 2014 Latina of Influence. The organization proudly launched the world’s first annual International Mariachi Women’s festival in 2014. It has made many contributions to the community.
The organization recently secured a grant from the California Arts Council to provide mariachi instructions at five schools in the Los Angeles School District for 2023 and 2024.
