Established in 2017, the Marcos de Niza Mariachi Program was created to provide opportunities in Mariachi music and culture for students at Marcos de Niza High School.  Students are offered musical instruction on violin, flute, trumpet, guitar, vihuela, voice, and guitarrón.  Our program consists of three levels of mariachi ensembles: Mariachi Virtuoso (auditioned; advanced level), Mariachi Sinfónico (auditioned; intermediate level), and Mariachi Concierto (non-auditioned; beginning level). Additionally, we offer our extracurricular Mariachi Club for those who are unable to schedule the class or attend other schools in the district without a mariachi program.

The Marcos de Niza Mariachi Ensemble has performed on campus in concert and at pep assemblies, as well as throughout the Phoenix Metro area, including opening for the Phoenix Symphony (2022) and Chandler Symphony (2019).  In 2020, MdN Mariachi was selected as an Honored Performance Ensemble for the Arizona Music Educators Association Conference and also traveled to Austin/San Antonio, TX to perform and work with Monica Fogelquist, Professor of Ethnomusicology/Mariachi at University of Texas at Austin.  Additionally, the program hosts the annual Marcos de Niza Mariachi Festival, an evening of music performances and community building, during the spring semester.