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Permenter Middle School started a Mariachi Program in 2023, under the direction of music teacher Nicolas Miranda.

The program is already making its presence felt regionally with three Permenter seventh graders – violinists Esmerelda Mauricio and Isaias Valentin and guitarist Vito Minarovic advancing to the All-Region Mariachi Performance on March 29 in Grand Prairie.

This is the first time Cedar Hill ISD has had mariachi musicians qualify for regionals.

“We are so proud of these three scholars – who are leaders in our Mariachi Program,” Miranda said. “Their dedication and hard work will be on full display at this performance on March 29.”

Mauricio grew up in a home with traditional mariachi music.

“I’ve never played a concert like the one we’ll play on March 29,” said Mauricio, who ranks 15^th in the region on Mariachi Violin.

When Valentin – ranked 10^th – found out there was an Orchestra program at Permenter, he was excited and even more so to learn of the specific Mariachi program.

Minarovic ranks second in the Guitarra de Golpe.

“I’d always known about Mariachi, but I didn’t know it would be part of the school curriculum,” Minarovic said. “You would not believe how excited I was when I found out I qualified for regionals.”