Mariachi Herencia de México returns to the Valley, with a March night in Scottsdale

The Chicago-born, Latin Grammy-nominated ensemble last played here in September 2022 in Mesa; next up is the Virginia G. Piper Theater on Friday, March 12, 2027.

The last time Mariachi Herencia de México played the Valley was September 17, 2022, at Mesa Arts Center's Ikeda Theater. After more than four years away, the group is coming back, this time to Scottsdale.

Mariachi Herencia de México plays the Virginia G. Piper Theater at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, March 12, 2027, at 7:30 p.m. The date was announced October 8, and tickets are available through Scottsdale Arts. The Piper Theater seats about 850, which makes it a close-up room for an ensemble this size.

The group's story is part of the draw. Mariachi Herencia de México grew out of Chicago's public schools. César Maldonado started the Mariachi Heritage Foundation to teach mariachi to CPS students, and the touring ensemble was formed by audition from that program. Its debut album, *Nuestra Herencia*, topped the Latin streaming charts and earned a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album. That record was produced by José Hernández, founder of Mariachi Sol de México. ABC7 Chicago called the debut historic, and WFYI talked with Maldonado this spring about the group's roots.

The catalog has grown steadily since. *Herencia de la Tierra Mía* followed in 2018, then the *Esencia* albums in 2019 and 2020. The 2022 album *Herederos* brought another Latin Grammy nomination. The group has played major stages including the Kennedy Center and Guadalajara's Teatro Degollado, according to a University Musical Society profile that described them as a new generation of mariachi.

They're on a busy 2026–27 season. Other presenters on this run include Hancher Auditorium in Iowa, which has them the night before Scottsdale with a Juan Gabriel tribute program. Scottsdale's own program hasn't been detailed in what we found, so check the presenter's page as the date gets closer.

Scottsdale's theater, with its intimate sightlines, gives the trumpets, violins and vocal harmonies room to breathe.

Showtime is 7:30 p.m. on a Friday. Tickets are through Scottsdale Arts. Four years is long enough. Bring the whole family.

Sources: Scottsdale Arts (scottsdaleperformingarts.org); JamBase: Mariachi Herencia de Mexico at Virginia G. Piper Theater (jambase.com); NBC News: 'Nuestra Herencia': How a Chicago Schools Mariachi Group Landed a Latin Grammy Nomination (nbcnews.com); ABC7 Chicago: Mariachi Herencia de Mexico create historic debut album (abc7chicago.com); WFYI: Cesar Maldonado on the roots of Mariachi Herencia de México (wfyi.org); UMS: Mariachi Herencia de México brings a new generation of mariachi (ums.org); Hancher Auditorium: Mariachi Herencia de México (hancher.uiowa.edu)