World-renowned ensemble Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán will join the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra Saturday, January 12, 2019, at 7:30 p.m at the Selena Auditorium, marking its first appearance with the Symphony in Corpus Christi. Originally founded in 1898, Mariachi Vargas has thrived for five generations and become one of the most internationally celebrated ensembles in Mexican music history, spurring national pride for what is now recognized as Mexico’s classic sound, including the title of "World's Best Mariachi" since the 1950s. Based in Mexico City, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán is considered the most influential ensemble in the development of mariachi music and the leading authority for the art form. The group’s irresistible energy and musical mastery are displayed in repertoire ranging from traditional Mexican songs to classical works. Performing in dazzling traditional costumes, the 13 musicians of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán include vocalists, as well as instrumentalists who perform on violins, trumpets, harps and several types of guitars, including the guitar-like vihuela and guitarrón. Since their founding, Mariachi Vargas has produced more than 50 recordings, and their music has been featured in more than 200 films. Widely recognized for their interpretations of classic songs such as “Amor Se Dice Cantando” and “El Cascabel,” Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán continues to record and tour internationally. The group’s music also can be heard in a number of films including Transformers (2007), Man on Fire (2004) and the animated family feature Turbo (2013). In 1986, Linda Ronstadt appeared with the Mariachi Vargas at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference where she sang publicly in Spanish for the first time. In 1987 she released her "Canciones de mi Padre" album featuring Mariachi Vargas which won her a Grammy[2] award for the album. She also went on a national tour with the group, giving greater international exposure to mariachi music than ever before and creating a new audience for mariachi music among non-Hispanics. Don't miss a "spirited, virtuosic and joyful" (The Ann Arbor News) performance that will captivate you from the first notes to the very last. Tickets for this special concert will go on sale October 10th at 10:00 a.m. CST. Tickets can be purchased by phone at (361) 826-4100, online at www.americanbankcenter.com, or at the American Bank Center box office: 1901 N. Shoreline Blvd., Corpus Christi, TX 78401.