Students in the sixth through 12th grades got a sneak peek at college life while honing their skills at UNT’s mariachi camp this summer. The camp, hosted by the College of Music, brings together intermediate- and advanced-level students from throughout North Texas school districts to practice singing or playing the trumpet, violin, guitar, vihuela or guitarrón. A long-term goal is to increase the students’ interest in attending college.

The camp gave participants the opportunity to interact with accomplished UNT student and alumni mariachi groups. Teaching the classes were bilingual instructors who are music education majors or members of the Mariachi Águilas, a UNT student group, or the Mariachi Quetzal, a professional music group consisting of UNT students and alumni.

Donna Emmanuel, associate professor of music, and Steve Prouty (’90 M.S.), who holds a doctor of psychology degree, developed leadership workshops for the UNT student instructors.

Watch video from a previous mariachi camp. (Video requires the free Flash Player and is closed captioned for the hearing impaired)