The program name, Mariachi Infantil is historically significant and personal to its founder, John Lopez.
Mariachi Infantil was the name of a youth program at an orphanage called La Cuidad de los Niños in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. At this orphanage, Padre Alvarez began teaching mariachi to the orphans as a way to give them a musical future. Mr. Lopez’s father, Arturo Lopez and uncles, Alberto and Alfonso received their mariachi education while growing up in this orphanage.
Upon moving to San Antonio in the 1960s, the now adult Lopez brothers established Mariachi Chapultepec.
Mariachi Chapultepec was considered by many at that time as one of the best mariachi groups to ever come from San Antonio. Tragically, in November of 1970, the existence of this group was cut short after an accidental fire in Chicago claimed the lives of Arturo, Alberto, and Alfonso.
In their memory, John Lopez decided to name the Texas State Youth Mariachi Program, Mariachi Infantil.