Mariachi Mexico Antiguo

Mariachi Mexico Antiguo, a group of 12 men and women based in Wallingford, Connecticut, is celebrated for its vibrant sound, traditional core, and respectful focus on the traditions of the mariachi genre. Their instrumentation includes guitar, guitarrón, harp, violin, trumpet, and vocals. Established in 2010 by former and current students of local music schools in the Las Vegas area, Mariachi Mexico Antiguo serve as ambassadors of mariachi, performing in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Utah, New York, Colorado, Washington, Wyoming, Connecticut, and the Lowell Folk Festival in Massachusetts. Mariachi Mexico Antiguo has worked with renowned artists such as Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, Jose Hernandez and his Mariachi Sol de Mexico, and Jesus “Chuy” Guzman and members of Los Camperos de Nati Cano. They have also accompanied artists such as Beatriz Adriana, Graciela Beltran, Gildardo Alvarez, Juan Valentin, Flor de Toloache, and Placido Domingo.

Members of the group had visited Connecticut several times to teach mariachi music at a new academy for young students, developed in Wallingford’s Mexican community by Evangeline Mendoza. The success of this venture, and the founder’s retirement, led twelve musicians from the group to move to Connecticut from Las Vegas in 2016 to lead the school. Since then Mariachi Mexico Antiguo has become well known for its joyous and authentic performances in festival, concert, church, and community settings. They have won awards including Best Mariachi in the Tri-State Area and Best Mariachi in the East Coast. Mariachi Mexico Antiguo has produced a CD of their music.