One year ago, Emilio Cantu was a retired man. He'd spent 32 years as a high school music director, 20 of which were spent building a mariachi program at La Joya High School. But it was time to step away and bask in the glory of retirement.

His basking didn't last long. The music and the lure of teaching called him back.

"I missed it," he said. "It's kinda hard to stay away."

He's seen the La Joya mariachis grow from a little idea to start the musical project, one of the few of its kind in the country, into a program that now boasts as many as 600 participants. Throughout this month, mariachi students in the programs at La Joya's three high schools will be presenting their spring concerts.

Though the program is now flourishing, that wasn't always the case. It was started in the late 1980s as a form dropout prevention. It wasn't until the mid-1990s, however, that mariachi programs became popular beyond the Valley, Cantu said.

With support from the school board and the community, students in the mariachi program over the years have had the chance to perform in places such as the U.S. capital and Europe. Their audiences have included big name politicians like former President George H. W. Bush and former Gov. Ann Richards.

And in 2000, the school began offering conjunto classes as a branch of the mariachi program.

"In the beginning, I don't think we realized - or anybody realized - how popular it was going to get," he said.

But it did. And over the years, it has become a place to belong for those students who never quite found their place in traditional music programs - like band and orchestra. Typically, Cantu said, "one taste and they fall in love with it." 

All these years later, the thrill of teaching and guiding his young musicians beat by beat remains, and Cantu hasn't lost his knack for it either.

He leads each practice with a coolness attainable only after years of teaching teenagers. Almost hypnotically, a single lift of his hand signals his chattering students into silence, and they quickly lift their instruments to play. The students' respect for him is reflected in their eyes and attention.

Andres Cantu, who is not related to Emilio Cantu, has been with the group for two years and remembers quickly developing a love for mariachi music, due in large part to his teacher.

"He's one of those teachers you can tell from his character that he really cares about the group. You can't ask for more," the 17-year-old said. "He's one of my greatest teachers." 

Cantu brushes away the impact of the program, simply stating that all music has the power to touch students' lives. But modesty can't dull the gleam of pride in his eye when he talks of the students that have left the program and used their skills for good, those who started after school mariachi programs or put themselves through college playing at weddings and quinceañeras on the weekends.

It's through the success stories that he draws the motivation to keep going.

"It makes you feel like you've accomplished something," he said. "If I can stay healthy, I can do this another four or five years."

 ----

Just off the heels of Juarez-Lincoln High School's mariachi concert, two other La Joya-area schools will be presenting their programs.

PALM VIEW HIGH SCHOOL
WHO: Mariachi Los Lobos, Grupo Folklorico Ozomatli and Conjunto Los Lobos
WHEN: Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
WHERE: La Joya ISD Performing Arts Center 604 N. Coyote Blvd.
TICKETS: $6
CALL: (956) 323-2031

LA JOYA HIGH SCHOOL
WHO: Mariachi Los Coyotes, Grupo Folklorico  StateTabasco and Conjunto Los Diamantes
WHEN: Feb. 28 and March 7 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and March 1 and 8 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: La Joya ISD Performing Arts Center, 604 N. Coyote Blvd.
TICKETS: $6
CALL: (956) 323-2031