Introducing Los Osos Dorados: Baylor University’s First Mariachi Ensemble
Los Osos Dorados (“The Golden Bears”) are making history as Baylor University’s first official mariachi ensemble — a vibrant celebration of Hispanic heritage, student diversity, and musical excellence.
WHY A MARIACHI BAND AT BAYLOR?
The short answer is because the students made it happen!
Mariachi is a Mexican musical tradition dating back to the 18th century. With Texas’ proximity to the border and formerly being part of Mexico itself, it has also become a strong Texan tradition. The iconic embroidered trajes (uniforms), large sombreros, soulful gritos and storytelling songs are just some of the many things to love about this beautiful style of music.
There are multiple Texas universities that have mariachi ensembles and programs – with some reaching back decades.
Baylor’s student population is more diverse than ever before with more than 30% identifying as a racial minority on campus. The second largest group after White is Hispanic/Latino.
For these and many other reasons, the School of Music recognized the great opportunity to embrace an important and beautiful aspect of Baylor’s cultural identity and offer a special ensemble that represents that demographic.
HOW LOS OSOS DORADOS BEGAN
Returning Baylor students will be familiar with this student-created musical group, which was first developed in 2021 by then student, now alumnus, Isaiah Herrera (BM Double Bass, ‘25). In those early days, Isaiah managed nearly everything himself, from transcribing/distributing the music to procuring the band’s first armonia instruments, and the band members collectively fundraised money to purchase their traje uniforms. It quickly evolved into an official student organization, supported by their first faculty advisor and Associate Professor of Spanish, Dr. Moisés Park. However, participants had their sights set higher.
“What I find the most beautiful is the very fact that this group's existence and thriving nature was all a team effort, started and created from a diverse group of hearts all filled with love and passion for the same goal: To promote diversity and acceptance in the Baylor community through the powerful voice of mariachi music,” said Isaiah, now a graduate student pursuing Master’s degrees in Double Bass Performance and Pedagogy and Latin Music Studies with a focus in mariachi music.
As Isaiah and other student participants were gradually reaching their senior year, they wanted to make sure the legacy didn’t end with them. They earnestly pushed for official recognition as a School of Music ensemble, which became possible when Lecturer of Jazz Studies Marcelo Boccato Kuyumjian, DMA (or “Dr. K” as students know him) became the ensemble’s second advisor and now director in 2023.
The School of Music was ecstatic to offer a new and diverse ensemble that would appeal to a wider range of students. In partnership with the Provost’s office, a grant was secured in 2025 to adopt Los Osos Dorados into the School of Music’s ensemble family.
“As the ensemble director, there’s a lot of work that I can now do, as part of my teaching load or having access to resources institutionally, that was starting to get too heavy for the students,” said Dr. Boccato Kuyumjian. “Making this an official ensemble makes it easier for the mariachi band to be an enjoyable part of their experience as well as getting a steady schedule of concerts throughout the year.”
Demand for performances by Los Osos Dorados is high, with at least two requests a day coming in for Hispanic Heritage Month events campus-wide.
“The students hate saying no to opportunities, but I have to protect their bandwidth. I'm hoping that the group will grow so that we can have money to do trips with the ensemble as well and more concerts. I would love for this to be a scholarship ensemble sometime soon.”
WHAT IT MEANS TO STUDENTS
The dedication amongst the band is unmatched. Student Leader/President Selah Colón is not only a fourth year returning member, but she commutes from Dallas to Waco for mariachi performances and rehearsals while she finishes her nursing degree at the Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing.
Freshman Valente Hernandez is not only pursuing a double major in Biochemistry and Saxophone Performance, but he’s also performing in Baylor’s Symphonic Band and taught himself to play the flute over the summer, which he plays in the mariachi band.
Amongst all members are stories of passion, finding community and dedication to protecting and fortifying this musical family.
Mariachi Los Osos Dorados
“Participating in the mariachi has been liberating for me. I am in a banda back home, and I wanted to continue that journey of learning and being a part of Hispanic culture. When I’m able to put on my traje, it feels like a transportation into something more outside of myself and into the throes of a culture with so much history and meaning to so many people. I’m so happy that a mariachi is here on campus because of what that means to the numerous people who find solace in the music but also its emotional meaning to them and their origins. I’m honored to be a part of the mariachi, and I take great pride in all that that means.” - Aubrey Bedford, Vocalist for Los Osos Dorados, Trombonist for the Golden Wave Band, Computer Science Major
“I heard about Mariachi Los Osos Dorados my freshman year at Baylor in 2022 through a friend who played trumpet in the ensemble. The rest is history! I wanted to join to connect more with myself and my heritage. I grew up in a state with not many Hispanics and always felt a sense of shame in being Hispanic. However, when I moved to Texas for school, I wanted to explore my connection with my culture, and sure enough the shame I felt slowly broke away from me. This opportunity truly has been so beautiful and has made me so proud of who I am and where I come from. I truly did find myself being in this ensemble. My culture will always be a huge factor in my identity, and being able to play this music truly completes me in a way that words cannot even begin to describe. It will be the thing I miss most when I graduate.” - Selah Colón, Trumpeter for Los Osos Dorados, Nursing student in Baylor's Louise Herrington School of Nursing in Dallas, TX
“My mom is so happy. They definitely are going to be coming to a concert. They're very excited to come and listen. I grew up listening to Mariachi music my entire life and did baile folklórico. I feel like Hispanic culture, really, is a lot about family and loving each other and supporting each other. So I think it's really nice that we're getting to do that with music and encouraging others to listen to us, come join us, come try out, come do whatever you want. Be a part of it in any way, just being inclusive. That's what I really like about it.” - Valente Hernandez, Flautist for Los Osos Dorados, Saxophonist for Symphonic Band, Biochemistry and Saxophone Performance Double Major
“Selah is my older sister. We're both from Honolulu, Hawaii, where there isn't a lot of exposure to Mexican culture. The first time I actually heard about mariachi was when I came here to see her perform. I listened to it and thought, ‘Oh, my gosh - I need to do this.’ I just fell in love with how passionate it is, how expressive it is. I've never heard any music like it before. I was just learning Spanish, so that was kind of my segue into learning more about the language, more about my culture. It's my special place at Baylor. It's like the perfect paths are crossing where my passion for music and my culture are all coming together for this one singular thing. Just like how at Baylor, we're all coming for the purpose of being children of God and also trying to get our education.” Rachel Colón, Vocalist for Los Osos Dorados, Psychology Major
“I wanted to diversify my musical abilities beyond orchestra. I’m Mexican but I never felt quite connected to my culture because my family's military, so we moved a lot. Isaiah was the bassist in our orchestra, and he made an announcement that they (Los Osos Dorados) were looking for violin musicians. And I thought, wait, there’s a mariachi? I would love to join! I'm really glad the school finally recognized the mariachi band as an important central part of the school and as its own ensemble. So many other schools have mariachi bands, so I'm glad Baylor's being added to that.” - Lauryn Rios, Violinist for Los Osos Dorados, Professional Writing Major
“Mariachi music is a historic accumulation of stories, identities, and values that connect with the very essence of human emotions. To have a band at Baylor that not only plays the authentic music associated with Mexican culture, but also voices the very pride, joy, and strength of a community that embodies love and friendship is extremely special. Being that Baylor University is grounded in the principles of faith and love; it is beautiful to see how the presence of mariachi music continues to re-enforce those values while fostering an environment that promotes acceptance of all backgrounds. It is clear Los Osos Dorados contains a diverse background of musicians, and that directly supports the fundamental truth that music, especially that of mariachi, is available for all people to embrace, bond through, and enjoy as one. To have been part of such a wonderful community is nothing short of a blessing, and I am eternally grateful for the ever-lasting friendships, memories, and goals we were all able to accomplish together as we nurtured the presence of this music in the Baylor community.” - Isaiah Herrera, Founder of Los Osos Dorados, BM Double Bass Performance, ‘24
DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE
This highly driven group, however, still has aspirations for the future. Everyone had the same things to say about their hopes for the ensemble in the long-term:
Longevity – This is only the beginning!
More courses on mariachi and Latin-American music
Tailored trajes (uniforms) for everyone in the band
More musicians, talent and funding to perform competitively nationwide
HOW TO JOIN MARIACHI LOS OSOS DORADOS
Despite the mariachi band being brand new as an official ensemble, 12 new students joined this fall with no recruiting efforts at all. Through social media and word of mouth from returning participants, the interest to join is impressive. But they need more.
Dr. K even challenged himself to learn the vihuela earlier this year to step in and perform periodically with the ensemble when more musicians are needed.
Only four members of the band are actual music majors. While all ensembles gladly welcome all majors to participate, music majors can bring another level of excellence and leadership to performances.
Musicians of all levels are encouraged to reach out if they have experience singing, playing trumpet, violin, flute, acoustic guitar, guitarrón, or vihuela. They especially need more guitarrón musicians.
Reach out to Dr. Marcelo Boccato Kuyumjian
SUPPORT BAYLOR'S MARIACHI ENSEMBLE
¡Que viva la música! (Long live the music!)
Follow @baylormariachi on Instagram where you can see their upcoming campus performances. And don’t miss their annual Cinco de Mayo concert on Tuesday evening, May 5, 2026.
Passionate supporters of the arts and especially, the School of Music, have a great opportunity to make Baylor history by giving to this talented and highly motivated ensemble.
Mariachi performers and instructors are invited to reach out if interested in helping mentor these rising stars. A big thank you to those who have already invested so much time and expertise into the group, such as Grammy-nominated violinist and vocalist Dr. Felicia Rojas.
Help us ensure Mariachi Los Osos Dorados remains an integral part of Baylor University and the larger Waco community.
Donations are always welcome and are immensely valuable for Baylor University’s School of Music.
Donate to the School of Music