04/20/2026
To the Community of Las Cruces:
It is a true honor to be invited to the “2026 Fiestas de Las Cruces Mariachi Conference.” It is my intent to connect and inspire our young students through Mexico’s folkloric Art form of Mariachi music. In order to keep our students engaged in music, involving and reaching out to the community of Las Cruces through this festival, will be immensely powerful.
~ Roberto
Roberto J. Martinez is currently a retired certified educator and performer. Although retired, Roberto is still actively involved in promoting the mariachi culture, teaching our youth and conducting Professional Development seminars to mariachi educators in the student academic mariachi arena. Roberto received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education, B.A.E. from the University of Arizona in 1981. His Education Degree has allowed him to be actively involved in Mariachi Music Curriculum Development for School Mariachi Programs, Conferences and Music Education Workshops throughout the United States. Roberto has acted as an instructor, director, clinician, facilitator, administrator and consultant for these nationally acclaimed Mariachi Music Education Festivals and Conferences. Roberto has had the opportunity to develop and create mariachi music curricula and student workshops for private and public schools.
Roberto’s mariachi roots date back to 1970 as a member of Tucson, Arizona’s Community Youth Mariachi Group “Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson.” While participating in this youth group, it gave him the opportunity to build and nurture his relationship with his parents and immediate family by sharing Mexico’s folkloric music, heritage, language, customs and culture. This youth mariachi organization had established a college scholarship fund, which was aimed at financially supporting and securing a students’ future college education. This incredible opportunity allowed Roberto to attend the University of Arizona to pursue and complete his Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education. Roberto has become an advocate of Arts in music education, student musicians and their pursuit of post high school education.
As a member of the renowned Mariachi Cobre performing at the Walt Disney World’s Epcot Theme Park in Orlando, the opportunity to share Mexico’s folkloric mariachi music to millions of guests from around the world was paramount. Since the Grand Opening of Epcot in 1982, Roberto had provided the Walt Disney World’s iconic “Guests’ Magical Experiences” while performing at Epcot’s México Pavilion and other Walt Disney World venues. Roberto had been a member of Mariachi Cobre from 1978 - 2015. In addition, Mariachi Cobre has had the opportunity to perform with orchestras and symphonies throughout the United States and Mexico as well as many
Mariachi Festivals and Conferences for over 40 years. The most notable was recording with The Boston Pops Orchestra on their Latin Album. In a ten year span after retirement from Walt Disney World, Roberto taught and implemented a Mariachi Music Education Program for Chicago Public Schools, a graduate class at Chicago’s Vandercook College of Music, Tucson’s Sunnyside High School Mariachi Music Education Program and Tucson’s Pima Community College mariachi program.
Roberto’s mariachi roots date back to 1969 as a member of the Tucson, Arizona Community Youth Mariachi Group “ Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson.” While participating in this youth group, it gave Roberto the
opportunity to build, bond and nurture his relationship with his parents and immediate family by sharing
Mexico’s folkloric music, language, customs and culture. This youth mariachi organization had established
a college scholarship fund, which was aimed at financially supporting a student’s future college education.
This incredible opportunity allowed Roberto to attend the University of Arizona to pursue and complete his Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education. Roberto has become an advocate of music education, student musicians and our youths pursuit of higher education.
