José Hernández is an 11-time Grammy Award nominee and a master of mariachi music. He is a world-renowned musician, composer, and music educator who also travels year-round teaching the art of mariachi music to new generations at schools across the United States and Mexico. He is founder of the world-famous Mariachi Sol de México and America’s first all-female professional mariachi ensemble, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles.

Hernández is a fifth-generation mariachi whose passion is to bring mariachi music to audiences around the world. He works tirelessly to inspire and empower the next generation of musicians through the educational initiatives he has founded: the José Hernández Mariachi Nationals and Summer Institute, a mariachi music summer intensive and competition that brings together some of the country’s top student mariachi ensembles; and the Mariachi Heritage Society, which teaches mariachi music and folk dancing to new generations. He is also the musical director of several mariachi festivals.

Hernández’s musical inspirations are rich and diverse, ranging from Agustín Lara to José Alfredo Jiménez. His 17th CD, Bailando Sones y Huapangos con el Mariachi Sol de México, an homage to the significant relationship between mariachi and ballet folklórico, was nominated for both a Latin Grammy and a Grammy. He has also recorded with Selena, Vicente Fernandez, Lola Beltrán, Juan Gabriel, Luis Miguel, Bryan Adams, and the Beach Boys.

Founded in 1969, Los Lupeños de San José is a trailblazer among Mexican folk dance companies in the United States, committed to preserving and enriching the vibrant tapestry of Mexican culture through the art of dance. As a nonprofit organization, their mission centers on sustaining the presentation and education of Mexican folk traditions, fostering a universal appreciation for the folklórico genre.

Guided by core values of artistry, education, and performance, Los Lupeños not only showcases the captivating beauty of traditional dances but also empowers individuals through accessible educational opportunities, nurturing a profound understanding and pride in Mexican heritage. Their vision is to inspire audiences worldwide, celebrating the dynamic and evolving spirit of Mexican folk culture.