The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) has launched SONIDO TEJANO, the university’s first ensemble dedicated to the study and performance of Tejano music, according to a recent announcement. The ensemble, a landmark addition to UTSA’s School of Music, aims to elevate the genre’s academic study and preservation.
Leading the novel ensemble is Tejano Music Legend Shelly Lares, appointed as UTSA’s first Artist in Residence. Lares, a San Antonio native, brings more than four decades of experience in the Tejano music industry to the role. Joining her is Michael Acevedo, UTSA’s Mariachi Director and founder of Mariachi Los Paisanos and Mariachi Juvenil.
SONIDO TEJANO will be open to instrumentalists and vocalists, encompassing a wide range of instruments including drums, bass, guitar, accordion, keyboards, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and percussion instruments like congas and timbales. The ensemble’s instrumentation reflects the diverse and dynamic sound of contemporary Tejano music, which blends conjunto traditions with influences from pop, jazz, R&B, country, and mariachi.
Lares emphasized the cultural depth of Tejano music, describing it as “Mexican-American music” that has incorporated the foundations of conjunto music over the years. Her appointment as Artist in Residence builds upon UTSA’s history of music education and research, and is intended to accelerate the School of Music’s vision to become a world-class center for contemporary music.
As Artist in Residence, Lares will also lecture in music technology classes, assisting students in mastering recording and editing techniques. She will coach UTSA vocal students, including the university’s mariachi ensemble, to enhance their Tejano-style abilities, and contribute to the development of programming for world-class musicians in contemporary Latin styles.
Lares’s career spans 25 albums and has earned her international recognition for her voice and stage presence. She was recently named the 2025 Corazón de Oro Award winner by the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists (SAAHJ), recognizing her contributions to the community and her advocacy work. The award will be presented on August 16, 2025, at The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.
UTSA’s selection of Lares as Artist in Residence occurred in September 2023, and the launch of SONIDO TEJANO represents a significant step in recognizing and celebrating Tejano music’s cultural importance. The ensemble’s first performances and academic programming are scheduled to begin in the current academic year.
