Los Mariachitos de Guadalupe: A Long-Lost Treasure of Guadalupe, Arizona

Incorporated in 1975, the Town of Guadalupe, Arizona, is home to a rich history centering around the Yaqui Indian tribe from Sonora, Mexico, as well as descendants of Mexican immigrants. Faith, family, tradition, and the establishment of identity have played key roles in the lives of the town’s inhabitants, often amid tensions between the two groups. A treasure of Guadalupe was established in the early 1990s: Los Mariachitos de Guadalupe. The mariachi ensemble based out of Frank Elementary School, led by music teacher Marna Bowling, rose to stardom both locally and nationally. From a spotlight appearance on Sesame Street to performing alongside Doc Severensen and The Phoenix Symphony, the legacy of Los Mariachitos had a tremendous impact, both musically and personally, on the Guadalupe community, students, and the ensemble’s director during its years of existence. How did the ensemble develop from its fledgling beginnings? What events and memories continue to resonate with former students and their director? How were the creation and success of Los Mariachitos de Guadalupe exemplary of culturally responsive teaching in music education? In this article, primary historical documents and scholarly secondary sources are interwoven with personal interviews conducted with Bowling and her former students.