Cultural Manifesto

Listen to a conversation with Cesar Maldonado, founder and artistic director of Mariachi Herencia de México. Based in Chicago, the ensemble grew out of the Mariachi Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit organization devoted to preserving and advancing mariachi music through youth education. Founded in 2016, Mariachi Herencia de México has evolved from a student project into a dynamic ensemble of young virtuosos, blending deep respect for tradition with a vibrant, contemporary energy. Their 2017 debut album topped Latin music streaming charts and earned a Latin Grammy nomination — a remarkable achievement for a group born out of a community education program. Since then, they’ve released multiple acclaimed recordings, received a second Latin Grammy nomination, and toured extensively across North America, bringing mariachi music to major stages and inspiring a new generation of performers.  Mariachi Herencia de México performs in Indiana February 19 at the Indiana University Auditorium in Bloomington, and Februa