UTSA Makes History With Launch of First-Ever Tejano Ensemble ‘Sonido Tejano’

The University of Texas at San Antonio is making history with the launch of SONIDO TEJANO, the very first Tejano Ensemble to be offered as part of the university’s music curriculum. This landmark moment not only elevates UTSA’s School of Music, but also represents a powerful step forward for Tejano music’s recognition, preservation, and academic study.

For the first time ever, UTSA students will have the opportunity to study and perform authentic Tejano music in a live ensemble setting, learning the genre’s rich stylistic foundations while honoring its deep cultural roots. Tejano music—born in South Texas and shaped by generations of Mexican-American communities—blends conjunto traditions with pop, jazz, R&B, country, mariachi, and more. It’s vibrant, evolving, and community-driven, and now it officially has a home on campus.

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Leading SONIDO TEJANO is Tejano Music Legend Shelly Lares, a trailblazer with more than four decades in the industry and UTSA’s first Artist in Residence. Joining her is Michael Acevedo, UTSA’s Mariachi Director, founder of Mariachi Los Paisanos and Mariachi Juvenil, and an accomplished Tejano musician and mentor in his own right. Together, they bring decades of professional performance experience directly into the classroom.

The ensemble is open to instrumentalists and vocalists, including drums, bass, guitar, accordion, keyboards, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and percussion such as congas and timbales—reflecting the full, dynamic sound of modern Tejano music.

In a social media video shared by the UTSA School of Music, Lares emphasized the genre’s cultural depth and diversity.

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“Tejano music is Mexican-American music, so we have incorporated throughout the years the foundations of conjunto music,” Lares shared. “As the years progressed and generations progressed, different people started to migrate to the Texas area—and of course, so did the music styles. You can definitely hear a lot of jazz implemented into Tejano. You can hear country music, you hear mariachi music.”

She added that Tejano music has always reflected the borderland experience.

“Since we’re so diverse musically and we’re so close to Mexico, we have so many musical influences on both sides. So Tejano music is not just one thing in particular per se. What we are is Mexican-American music.”

For Lares, SONIDO TEJANO is about more than performance—it’s about education, documentation, and respect for a genre that has long been underrepresented in academic spaces.

“Being a Tejano artist for 40 years and being in the music industry for 43, Tejano music has been what I’ve lived and breathed my whole career,” she said. “There hasn’t really been a lot of documenting, breaking down the stylistics of what Tejano music is, and that is why I’m proud of us because we’re gonna be one of the first universities to do so.”

Lares believes the timing couldn’t be better.

“I think there’s a new sense of respect that’s coming for Tejano music, and our music, our genre deserves it. I’m very excited that I’m gonna be reintroducing it to a whole new generation.”

As UTSA prepares to spotlight its students and their work, the excitement is undeniable.

“We cannot wait to showcase our students,” Lares added. “SONIDO TEJANO is about to ignite the stage!”

With this historic ensemble, UTSA is not only shaping the next generation of musicians—it’s helping ensure that Tejano music’s legacy continues to thrive, evolve, and claim its rightful place in both the classroom and the culture.

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