Marcos Garcia

Marcos Gaona Garcia

Consultant

Marcos Gaona Garcia earned his Bachelor’s degree from Our Lady of the Lake University in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas. He holds certifications as a K–8 Generalist Educator and an All-Level Music Specialist and has built a distinguished career spanning preschool, public school, and university music education. A passionate advocate for mariachi education, Garcia has been teaching, directing, and developing mariachi programs since 1996.

Widely recognized as one of Texas’s premier mariachi educators, Garcia has served in San Antonio ISD, Southwest ISD, Northside ISD, and South San Antonio ISD. His expertise in mariachi performance and instruction led to university appointments as Mariachi Director at Our Lady of the Lake University and Director of the award-winning Texas State University Mariachi Program in San Marcos. He has also held significant artistic leadership positions as Musical Director of the acclaimed all-female ensemble Mariachi Las Alteñas and Co-Musical Director of the internationally renowned Mariachi Campanas de América.

Following his relocation to the Rio Grande Valley, Garcia was appointed Head Mariachi Director for the Edcouch-Elsa Independent School District, where he currently leads one of the most prominent and respected mariachi programs in the state of Texas.

Garcia brings more than 30 years of professional performance experience to his educational career. He has appeared at some of the nation’s most prestigious venues, including the White House for President George W. Bush, the Kennedy Center, the Hollywood Bowl, and Walt Disney Concert Hall. His performance career has taken him throughout the United States, with appearances in Texas, California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.

He began performing professionally at the age of 15 and quickly established himself among Texas’s leading mariachi musicians. Garcia served for seven years as lead trumpet player with the award-winning Mariachi Festival de Oscar Garza, followed by seven years as a violinist with the nationally recognized Mariachi Campanas de América. He is currently in his 20th year as a violinist with the three-time Grammy-nominated ensemble Mariachi Los Arrieros del Valle.

Through his work as an educator, performer, and artistic leader, Marcos Gaona Garcia has dedicated his career to preserving, advancing, and inspiring the tradition of mariachi music for future generations.