This is, really, the beginning of the end of Bailey’s high-school mariachi experience. Yesterday he played in his last state-wide competition with his KOHS mariachi ensemble mates. A year ago Bailey and his bandmates became the first-even mariachi ensemble from the Klein Independent School District to qualify for the Texas State Mariachi Festival. When Bailey and his friends started the ensemble, the did so with it being an entirely student-run organization. They did not have school sponsorship; no band or orchestra director was involved. They started by raising money on their own, to pay for uniforms, to fund mariachi band trips.

When they qualified for state, a generous orchestra director got involved, helped them get to the next level. this little ensemble has come a LONG way since those heady days where it was an entirely student-run ensemble!

Yesterday the ensemble participated in what is Bailey’s find state competition as a member of Klein Oak Mariachi. The ensemble was spectacular. This is their performance.

The Klein Oak Mariachi Band, from Spring, TX, performing their set at the Texas State Mariachi Festival in Edinburg, TX on Feb 22, 2019.

John P. Needham

February 23, 2019 7:20PM

Spring, TX

Comment