Feb 1994                   Concept is formally presented by Phyllis Franzoy to the Diocese of Las Cruces Foundation Board of Governors, as a                                            special event for organization. 

 

Mar-Apr 1994            Feasibility Study is conducted by Foundation committee

 

May-Jun 1994           Meetings with consultants and masters in Mariachi Music and Folkloric Dance

 

Jun 1994                   Official announcement is made of collaboration between Diocese Foundation and Hispano Chamber of Commerce to                                          present the first Las Cruces International Mariachi Conference, “Festival de las Americas”
 

Nov 10-13, 1994       1st Annual Conference - Workshop Participants:  239 - Featured Entertainment: Lola Beltran; Mariachi Cobre, Mariachi                                          Los Camperos de Nati Cano Mariachi Juvenil - Showcased: Mariachi Oro del Sol, Nuevo Talento: Ixya Herrera

 

Oct 19-22, 1995       2nd Annual Conference - Added Parque Festival and Hispanic Arts Exhibit, and moved Music and Dance Showcase to                                       Pan American Center *Workshop Participants:  525  *Featured Entertainment: Angeles Ochoa; Mariachi Cobre, Mariachi                                     Los Camperos de Nati Cano Mariachi Juvenil Showcased:  Mariachi Primavera, Nuevo Talento: Jose Alonso Hernandez

 

Nov 14-17, 1996      3rd Annual Conference - Celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Mariachi Cobre - Workshop Participants: 626 - Featured                                           Entertainment: Aida Cuevas; Mariachi Cobre, Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano; Tatiana Bolanos, Mariachi Juvenil -                                       Showcased: Mariachi Los Arrieros, Nuevo Talento: Orlando Antonio Jimenez

 

Nov 11-14, 1997      4th Annual Conference - Celebrated the 100th Anniversary of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan

                                 Workshop Participants: 786 - Featured Entertainment: Nydia Rojas; Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan; Mariachi Cobre                                               Mariachi Juvenil - Showcased: Mariachi Los Arrieros

                                   

Nov 12-15, 1998      5th Annual Conference - Hispano Chamber leaves the position of Co-Presenter of Conference Opened Parque Festival on both                         Saturday & Sunday - Workshop participants:  846 - Featured Entertainment: Pedro Fernandez; Mariachi Cobre; Mariachi                                       Los Alondras, Mariachi Juvenil - Showcased: Mariachi Este Es Mi Mexico

 

Nov 11-14, 1999      6th Annual Conference - Spectacular Concert at Pan American Center has a sell-out crowd of 8,400

                                 Workshop Participants: 903 - Featured Entertainment:  Pepe Aguilar; Mariachi Cobre; Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles®

 

Nov 09-12, 2000      7th Annual Conference - First year to cap the number of workshop participants at 750 students; over 200 were turned                                           away - Workshop Participants: 787 - Featured Entertainment:  Vikki Carr; Mariachi Cobre; Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan;                                       Mariachi Mujer Dos Mil

 

Nov 14-18, 2001      8th Annual Conference - Cap for workshop participants remained at 750 students; however, due to the impact of 9/11/01                                     with strong response in registrations, the cap was raised to 800 - Featured Entertainment:  Manuel Vargas, two-time 2001                                     Latin Grammy Awards Nominee; Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano; Mariachi Cobre; Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles®

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Nov 13-17, 2002      9th Annual Conference - Cap for workshop participants was again 750, with 741 students attending; students were turned                                   away due to overfilled Violin classes - Featured Entertainment:  Ana Gabriel; Mariachi Cobre; Mariachi Reyna de Los                                           Angeles®

 

Nov 11-15, 2003      10th Anniversary Conference - 847 students admitted to workshops, due to additional hiring of instructors and more space                                    available at NMSU - Featured Entertainment:  Pedro Fernandez; Mariachi Cobre; Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose                                                Hernandez®

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Nov 10-14, 2004      11th Annual Conference - Cap for workshop participants is 750, with 786 students attending

                                 Featured Entertainment: Aida Cuevas; Mariachi Cobre; Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles®; Mariachi Los Arrieros

 

Nov 09-13, 2005      12th Annual Conference - Cap for workshop participants is 750 students - Featured Entertainment: Linda Ronstadt;                                               Mariachi Cobre; Mariachi Divas

                                   

Nov 08-12, 2006      13th Annual Conference - Cap for workshop participants is 750 students - Featured Entertainment: Alicia Villarreal;                                                Mariachi Cobre; Mariachi Divas; Mariachi Los Arrieros

 

Nov 07-11, 2007      14th Annual Conference - Cap for workshop participants is 750 students, with 782 attending

                                  Featured Entertainment:  Ana Barbara; Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez®; Mariachi Cobre; Mariachi Los Arrieros     

 

Nov 05-09, 2008      15th Anniversary Conference - Cap for workshop participants is 750 students, with 746 attending

                                  Featured Entertainment:  Pedro Fernandez; Mariachi Cobre; Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles®

 

Nov 11-15, 2009      16th Annual Conference - Cap for workshop participants is 750 students, with 802 attending

                                  Featured Entertainment:  Pepe Aguilar; Mariachi Cobre; Mariachi Mujer 2000

                                     

Nov 10-14, 2010      17th Annual Conference - Cap for workshop participants is 750 students, with 782 attending

                                  Featured Entertainment:  Shaila Durcal; Mariachi Cobre; Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez®

 

Nov 09-13, 2011      18th Annual Conference - Cap for workshop participants is 750 students, with 720 attending

                                  Featured Entertainment:  Vikki Carr; Mariachi Cobre; Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez®

 

Nov 14-18, 2012      19th Annual Conference - Cap for workshop students is 700 students, with 621 attending

                                  Featured Entertainment:  Ezekiel Pena; Mariachi Cobre; Las Colibri; Mariachi Tapatio

 

Nov 20-24, 2013      20th Annual Conference - Cap for workshop students is 700 students, with 630 attending

                                 Featured Entertainment:  Paquita de la Barrio; Sebastien de la Cruz; Mariachi Cobre; Mariachi Tapatio

 

Nov 12-16, 2014      21st Annual Conference is canceled due to lack of available classroom space.  Mariachi Competition was held in its                                           place.  Ten Mariachi Groups participated.

 

Nov 11-15, 2015      22nd Annual Conference is canceled due to lack of available classroom space.  Mariachi Sundays still took place in Old                                     Mesilla as scheduled.