Mariachi Ole! Texas State Mariachi Festival, February 22, 2019

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

Mariachi Band - Final 2017/2018 Concert

I am WAY behind in posting this, and I'm genuinely sorry about that! The Klein Oak Mariachi Band had their final concert of the 2017/18 school year back in May. It was really nice, held in the KOHS band hall, the ensemble members, their friends and families, a low-key, super-fun event.

Below are some videos of the show.

These talented and  motivated young musicians had a great year during the 2017/18 school year. Among other things, they were the first mariachi ensemble from from any Klein ISD school to qualify for, and participate in, the Texas State Mariachi Festival. 

It  would be hard to overstate how proud everyone is of these young musicians. For many of them, this was the final performance, as they have graduated and are moving on to college and other things. Those that remain are back-filling the ensemble and getting ready for another excellent year of mariachi music. We look forward to what the ensemble does in 2018/2018.

John Needham

Spring, TX

(posting from Chicago, IL)

June 26, 2018

Mariachi Ole!

C'mon, you knew this was coming, right? After all the still pictures from this weekend's Texas State Mariachi Festival, you knew there would be some videos of the Klein Oak High School Mariachi Band, right? I didn't take these videos, but another person did, and gave me permission to post them to You Tube. 

KOHS Mariachi Band was the first school from the whole Klein school district to qualify for the state mariachi festival. While a lot of schools were playing new, modern takes on mariachi music, with lots of stagecraft, KOHS Mariachi Band just played traditional mariachi music with little fanfare. It was a really well-received performance, to be sure. Take a look at how the crowd responded. They opened with Guadalajara:

Guadalajara, performed by the Klein Oak High School Mariachi Band, February 23, 2018 at the Texas State High School Mariachi Festival in Edinburgh, TX.

The next song they performed was El Rey. This is where the audience really started to respond.

El Rey, performed by the Klein Oak High School Mariachi Band, February 23, 2018 at the Texas State High School Mariachi Festival in Edinburgh, TX.

The band closed their set with No Me Se Rajar, which inspired the audience even more.

No Me Se Rajar, performed by the Klein Oak High School Mariachi Band, February 23, 2018 at the Texas State High School Mariachi Festival in Edinburgh, TX.

This was a genuinely extraordinary experience for these talented and hard-working young musicians. They walked off the stage with their feet barely touching the ground. 

And we parents were all profoundly proud of these kids.

John P. Needham

February 27, 2018

Spring, TX