Shelly Lares Talks ‘Sonidos de San Antonio 2026,’ A Star-Studded Celebration of Tejano Legacy and Future

A powerful night honoring the past, present, and future of Tejano music is set to take center stage this spring in San Antonio. “Sonidos de San Antonio 2026,” presented by the University of Texas at San Antonio in partnership with Shellshock Records 3 and JMT Studios, will bring together an all-star lineup of legends for a one-of-a-kind cultural celebration on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the historic Empire Theatre.

Serving as lead producer, musical director, and host, Tejano icon Shelly Lares is at the heart of the ambitious production, which blends legendary talent with the next generation of musicians through UTSA’s groundbreaking Sonido Tejano initiative.

Headlining the evening is a who’s who of Tejano and Conjunto royalty, including Little Joe, Ruben Ramos, Santiago Jiménez Jr., Ram Herrera, Patsy Torres, and Sunny Sauceda—artists whose careers helped define the sound of South Texas and beyond. The night will also feature Mariachi Los Paisanos, directed by Michael Acevedo, adding another layer of rich musical tradition to the program.

But beyond the star power, the concert carries a deeper purpose: investing in the future. Proceeds from the event will fund scholarships for UTSA students as part of the university’s Tejano Ensemble and Mariachi programs, ensuring the genre continues to thrive through education and performance.

In a recent interview on The Bo Corona Show, Lares shared insight into the vision behind the initiative and her role as UTSA’s artist-in-residence.

“When I first came on, I said, ‘I really want to do something for Tejano,’” Lares explained. “We wanted to create a full Tejano ensemble—something that represents everything from accordion-driven conjunto to orchestral and progressive styles. This is the beginning of hopefully many programs to come.”

The ensemble, now officially part of the university’s curriculum, marks a historic step for Tejano music in higher education. Lares says the response from students has been overwhelmingly positive.

“The inaugural class has been such a huge success. I have 14 students, and it’s incredible to see how gifted they are and how much they want to learn the style of Tejano,” she said.

“Sonidos de San Antonio 2026” will serve as a major showcase for those students, who will take on the unique role of backing the legendary performers on stage.

“My students are actually going to back these artists up—they’re playing the music, and these icons are going to come sing with them,” Lares said. “It’s a family thing.”

The event also aims to become an annual tradition tied to San Antonio’s Fiesta season, celebrating the city’s deep cultural roots while spotlighting its musical future.

“I wanted to do something annually, like kicking off Fiesta, and showcase our students on a bigger scale,” Lares shared. “This is not about me—it’s about my students, about the genre, and about generations to come.”

Lares emphasized that the mission extends beyond performance—it’s about mentorship, education, and preserving a cultural identity.

“Tejano is a culture and a genre that deserves our respect because of its beauty and the pioneers who introduced it to the world,” she said. “This is for Tejano music. This is for the next generation to understand what we’re about.”

With a lineup of living legends, a stage full of rising talent, and a mission rooted in community and culture, “Sonidos de San Antonio 2026” promises to be more than a concert—it’s a defining moment for Tejano music.

“This is the beginning,” Lares added. “If people support it, we’ll continue to grow it every year. There’s so much more to come.”

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