Mariachi Texas

Meet the band

aNNA mARIA mENDEZ - fLUTE

An attorney by day and musician by night (and on the weekends), Anna Maria is an Austin native and joined Mariachi Texas in early 2006. Anna Maria has been playing flute for about 17 years, and was a member of the Notre Dame Marching Band, Notre Dame Symphonic Winds, Notre Dame Symphony Orchestra, and various other chamber and ensemble groups throughout high school and college. Anna Maria also studied flute in the high school summer program at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Interlochen, Michigan. When she is not working or jamming with Mariachi Texas or her church group, Transposed, Anna Maria loves jogging or walking outside with her dog, practicing yoga, visiting funky coffee shops, dancing, and spending time with friends and family.

LITA hERNANDEZ - VIHUELA

A native of Austin, Lita has been singing and playing guitar with the contemporary music ministry of St. Ignatius Catholic Church for over 25 years. She is one of Mariachi Texas' founding members, having joined at its inception in 2005. With a lot of determination, hours of practice, and genuine love for the mariachi style of music, she has added both the vihuela and guitarron to her repertoire of musical instruments, realizing a long-held dream. Lita and her husband Manuel have 5 children. When she is not playing music or tending to her family, Lita is dispensing drugs and medical advice as a pharmacist for HEB.

mANUEL HERNANDEZ - GUITAR

Manuel Hernandez was raised in San Marcos, Texas and has lived in Austin for almost20 years. He is a self-taught guitarist and singer and has been a member of serveral Tejano, conjunto, and tejano-rock bands in the San Marcos area. He currently plays guitar and sings for the Killeen area tejano band, Libre. Manuel also works as a postoral musician for several churches in the Austin diocese, providing music for baptism, wedding, quinceanera, and funeral Masses. Manuel recently joined Mariachi Texas -- he brings 40 years of guitar-playing experience , a solid repertoire, and outstanding vocals. He and his wife Lita have been married 30 years.

rOBERT ALEMAN - TRUMPET

Robert was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley where he attended McAllen High School. After graduating from high school, Robert enrolled at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos and was in the Bobcat Marching Band for two years. He joined Mariachi Texas in September 2007. Robert also plays guitar at the 12:00 spanish mass at Ascenscion Catholic Church in Bastrop.