MEXICA MARIACHI INSTITUTE
Build your mariachi musicianship, make new friends,
and explore your sound with UH faculty and guest artists.
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HIGH SCHOOL
2026 UH High School Mariachi Institute
Join us at the University of Houston Moores School of Music for an elite college immersion experience designed for Texas’s most accomplished high school mariachi musicians.
The MEXICA Mariachi Institute provides local students with expert instruction in mariachi and ballet folklorico. Participants work with Houston’s most accomplished professional mariachi, including UH professor Jose Longoria. Each Festival day includes instrument-specific workshops, ensemble rehearsals, plus singing and dancing classes. A culminating performance will be presented to showcase your week of work.
Participants for the UH MEXICA Mariachi Institute must be Houston-area high school students who have intermediate or advanced mariachi experience playing guitar, guitarrón, trumpet, violin, vihuela, or harp.
For other inquiries, please email caa@uh.edu or call (713) 743-3398
HS Camp Details & Requirements
Coming soon!
Info coming soon! Placement auditions will take plac
Application Form| Participation Type | Includes | Cost (Payment due May 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Commuter | Tuition & lunch | $450* |
*Generous scholarships are available, dependent on grant funding and donations. All students must pay a $100 non-refundable meal fee upon acceptance, regardless of scholarship status.
Parking passes are available for an additional fee.
Once your registration form is processed, a confirmation email with your payment link and additional details will be sent from caa@central.uh.edu. If you don’t receive a confirmation, please contact caa@uh.edu to update your email address.
Available Scholarships:
- *Generous scholarships are available, dependent on grant funding and donations.
- Please indicate any financial need in your registration form.
- Please note: any scholarships do not apply to the $100 non-refundable fee, which is due for ALL students upon acceptance to the institute.
Daily Schedule:
- Check-in begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, July 26
- Orientation/Placement Auditions: Sunday, July 26, 2 – 5 p.m.
- Daily Schedule: Monday – Friday, check-in begins at 8:30 a.m.
Programming runs 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. - Final Institute Concert: Saturday, August 1, 12 p.m. Moores Opera House
A detailed schedule and student handbook will be provided prior to camp.
Location:
Moores School of Music
University of Houston
3333 Cullen Blvd, Houston, TX 77204
Private Lessons:
Optional faculty lessons are available for an additional $120. Indicate interest on the application or email caa@uh.edu. Payment due by May 1.
Parking:
Visitor permits are available for an additional fee. Details will be included in the
student handbook.
Q: My child is entering 9th grade in fall 2026. Can they attend?
A: This camp is best suited for students who have completed at least one year of high
school. Rising 9th graders should register for our Middle School Camp.
Q: Are both residential and commuter options available?
A: No, this is a commuter day camp only.
Q: Can my child drive themselves or carpool?
A: Yes—students may drive or carpool with others, but authorized transportation contacts must be submitted in advance via email (caa@uh.edu, subject: HS Mariachi Pick Up Authorization).
- Students busing in or driving with their teacher must also list that teacher as an authorized transportation contact in the email and/or registration form. This ensures we have a complete record of all approved drivers for student safety.
Q: Are there group discounts?
A: No, but students are encouraged to meet priority deadlines to receive discounted tuition.
Q: If I qualify for a scholarship, do I still pay anything?
A: Yes—all students must pay tuition upon acceptance, including a non-refundable meal fee. Scholarships cover partial tuition only and are dependent on available funding.
Q: When and how do I pay?
A: Once registration is processed, a payment link will be emailed to you from caa@central.uh.edu.
Please watch for it and reach out if you don’t receive it.
Q: What is the refund policy?
A: A $100 non-refundable deposit is included in tuition. Partial refunds are available
before May 1. No refunds after May 1 for any reason.
If a student leaves camp early, becomes ill during camp, or chooses not to attend, tuition is still due and we cannot offer a refund after May 1.
Q: When will I receive more info?
A: Our staff will send a detailed schedule and student handbook in the weeks before
camp.
Q: Who can I contact with more questions?
A: Please email caa@uh.edu with any additional questions.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
2026 UH Middle School Mariachi Institute
Join us at the University of Houston Moores School of Music for a fun, engaging mariachi camp designed for middle school students entering grades 6–9.
The UH MEXICA Mariachi Institute provides local students with expert instruction in mariachi and ballet folklorico. Participants work with Houston’s most accomplished professional mariachi, including UH professor Jose Longoria. Each Festival day includes instrument-specific workshops, ensemble rehearsals, plus singing and dancing classes. A culminating performance will be presented on the last day of camp.
Participants for the UH MEXICA Mariachi Institute must be Houston-area middle school students who have intermediate or advanced mariachi experience playing guitar, guitarrón, trumpet, violin, vihuela, or harp.
For other inquiries, please email caa@uh.edu or call (713) 743-3398
MS Camp Details & Requirements
| Participation Type | Includes | Cost (Payment due May 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Commuter | Tuition & lunch | $450* |
*Generous scholarships are available, dependent on grant funding and donations.
Parking passes are available for an additional fee.
Once your registration form is processed, a confirmation email with your payment link and additional details will be sent from caa@central.uh.edu. If you don’t receive a confirmation, please contact caa@uh.edu to update your email address.
Available Scholarships:
- *Generous scholarships are available, dependent on grant funding and donations.
- Please indicate any financial need in your registration form.
- Please note: any scholarships do not apply to the $100 non-refundable meal fee, which is due for ALL students.
Daily Schedule:
- Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m.
- Programming runs from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily
- Half the day will focus on mariachi music performance and the other half will include an in-depth introduction to Ballet Folklorico, voice classes, plus other UH curiosity-building experiences. No prior dance experience required.
- Lunch WILL BE provided; students do not have to bring their own lunch. We will provide water and snacks for students during breaks.
Location:
Moores School of Music
University of Houston
3333 Cullen Blvd, Houston, TX 77204
Q: My child is entering 9th grade. Should they attend this camp or the high school
camp?
A: Students entering 9th grade in fall 2026 should register for this Middle School
Mariachi Camp due to age and experience level differences.
Q: Is there a residential option for middle schoolers?
A: No, this is a commuter day camp only.
Q: Can my child carpool or be picked up by someone else?
A: Yes—students may drive or carpool with others, but authorized transportation contacts
must be submitted in advance via email (caa@uh.edu, subject: MS Mariachi Pick Up Authorization).
- Students busing in or driving with their teacher must also list that teacher as an authorized transportation contact in your application or via email. This ensures we have a complete record of all approved drivers for student safety.
Q: Are there group discounts?
A: No. However, families are encouraged to register early to take advantage of Early
Bird and Priority deadlines. We also hope to provide generous scholarships, depending
on pending donations and grant applications.
Q: If I qualify for a scholarship, do I still pay anything?
A: Yes—all students must pay tuition upon acceptance, including a non-refundable meal fee. Scholarships cover partial tuition only and are dependent on available funding.
Q: How and when do I pay?
A: Once registration is processed, a payment link will be emailed to you from caa@central.uh.edu. Please watch for it and reach out if you don’t receive it.
Q: What’s your refund policy?
A: A $100 non-refundable deposit is included in tuition. Partial refunds are available
before May 1. No refunds will be issued after May 1.
If a student leaves camp early, becomes ill during camp, or chooses not to attend, tuition is still due and we cannot offer a refund after May 1.
Q: When will I receive more info?
A: Our staff will send a detailed schedule and student handbook in the weeks before
camp.
Q: Who do I contact with questions?
A: Email caa@uh.edu with any additional questions or concerns.
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