Charros y Clásicos
Charros y Clásicos is a conversation at the crossroads of culture, identity, and sound. Hosted by Joel Lee Ozuna and Miguel Javier Gutierrez, this podcast delves into the rich worlds of mariachi and classical music—not just as genres, but as lived experiences that shape who we are. From the practice rooms of local schools to the stories passed down through generations, each episode explores how music becomes a bridge between tradition and transformation. Rooted in the Rio Grande Valley, Charros y Clásicos invites listeners to reflect, laugh, and reconnect with the sounds that define our roots and dreams.
Episodes
Note: This conversation was recorded in late March 2026, so a few references (like upcoming events) may have already taken place by the time you're listening.
A tire explodes five minutes before a high-stakes interview and our guest still walks in ready to teach. That moment becomes a hinge point in Alex’s story, moving from an unstable stretch after professional performing to building a new life in Southern California through...
A groundbreaking musical movement is taking shape in South Texas, and Mirelle Acuña stands at its center. In this enlightening conversation, the co-founder of the RGV International Mariachi Conference shares her vision for transforming mariachi education across the region and beyond.
"We've seen exponential growth in mariachi education here in South Texas," Mirelle explains, highlighting how students typically had to travel ...
Carlos Peralez sits down with Charros y Clásicos to share a remarkable journey that spans nearly five decades of balancing professional engineering with passionate musicianship. With violin in hand since age 10, Carlos takes us through his evolution from a kid who joined orchestra just to skip class to a dedicated performer with over 40 years in the Valley Symphony Orchestra.
"I think I needed music to get me through enginee...
When classical music plays in a baby's nursery, does it really make a difference? For Moises Llanes, those early moments with Beethoven and Brahms symphonies resonating through his crib shaped a lifelong passion that would transform orchestral education in the Rio Grande Valley.
This captivating conversation reveals how a businessman father with an eighth-grade education made a pivotal decision to expose his children to clas...
Meet Nathan Fernandez, a remarkable talent whose musical journey bridges two worlds – the rich mariachi traditions of his family and the prestigious international stage of Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández.
In this deeply personal conversation, Nathan reveals his childhood experiences standing beside his father at performances from the tender age of four, toy violin in hand, trying to mimic his father's manneris...
The path to musical excellence rarely follows a straight line. For Eloy Garza, director of Roma High School's celebrated mariachi program, that journey weaves through personal struggles, unexpected opportunities, and the profound impact of mentorship that transformed a shy trumpet player into an award-winning educator.
Growing up in a household filled with music, Garza was surrounded by family traditions dating back to his g...
Clyde Guerra never planned to become an award-winning mariachi director. His early musical journey began at age nine with a guitar class called "Las Guitarritas," leading to his first vocal competition win at a local livestock show. Surrounded by the sounds of Linda Ronstadt and Vicente Fernández in his grandmother's home, young Clyde was steered toward violin by a prescient voice teacher who told him it would give him better oppor...
The pathway to passion often begins with reluctance. In this heartfelt conversation, acclaimed musician and educator Karina Vela reveals how being forced to take guitar lessons instead of joining the basketball team as a child in Matamoros, Mexico, planted the seeds for a transformative musical journey.
"I was forced into music, not pushed," Vela laughs, recounting the maternal decision that changed her life trajectory. What began w...
The cultural disconnect in the Rio Grande Valley has long been a fascinating paradox: Brownsville celebrates its Mexican heritage with festivals like Charro Days, yet for years lacked the educational infrastructure to nurture mariachi musicians – until Abigail Gonzalez arrived with a vision to change everything.
Abigail's remarkable journey begins in La Joya, Texas, where she grew up surrounded by music and participate...
Alex Treviño II's journey from a small-town violinist to performing with the Grammy-winning Mariachi Los Camperos represents the beautiful intersection of family legacy, personal determination, and cultural heritage. In a recent conversation, Alex shared insights into his remarkable path that began long before he was born – with his parents meeting in their high school mariachi class.
Unlike many musicians who come fro...
Alex Treviño's first encounter with mariachi wasn't love at first sight—it was a reluctant step taken at his mother's insistence during his sophomore year of high school. Today, as the head mariachi director at McAllen High School and a performer with Grammy-nominated Mariachi Los Arreros del Valle, he laughs about that initial resistance. "I didn't want to join," he recalls, "but after one competition, I was hooked."
...
In this episode of Charros Y Clasicos, a Bosky Strings Podcast, hosts Miguel and Joel interview Mayra Garcia-Adame, a renowned mariachi director at Mariachi Los Lobos de Palmview High School and founder of Mariachi Mariposa, an award winning all-female mariachi. Mayra shares her inspiring story of overcoming adversity and becoming an influential leader in the mariachi world. She discusses her upbringing, the challenges she faced as...
Dr. Dahlia Guerra, a native of Edinburg, Texas, talks about the ongoing FESTIBA Festival, which promotes child literacy and takes us through the years with Mariachi Aztlán of UTRGV.
Corine Maldonado, the founder of Starr Music Academy, shares her story of how she discovered her passion for music education and how she turned that passion into a successful business.
From Monte Alto to Los Angeles, Valley native Patricio Molina shares the journey that's led him to California to live his dream of becoming a violinist for the Grammy Nominated Mariachi Sol De México de José Hernández.
Valley native Andrés Vela shares the musical journey that's led him to the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Valley native Josué Eduardo López shares his musical journey and how he became a musical arranger.
Abel Acuña, mariachi director for Edinburg North High School, talks about the upcoming documentary based on his high school mariachi, "Going Varsity in Mariachi."
Israel Cantu, a valley native from Edinburg, Texas, and a first-year orchestra director for Edinburg CISD shares his story of perseverance to fulfill his musical journey.
Marcos Zarate, Musical Director for the Grammy Nominated Mariachi Los Arrieros del Valle and Head Mariachi Director for Mariachi Cascabel of Rio Grande City High School, shares his story on how he started music.
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