Christian Ponce Mariachi Teacher at The Woodlands High School

How Mexican music brings hearts together and transforms lives around the world

*By Patricia Contreras

I met Christian and his talented Mariachi group at a very special Christmas concert organized to support the physical recovery of Kikín, another of the protagonists we have had the honor of featuring in WoodlandStories Magazine. That evening, as the audience became visibly emotional, Christian not only conducted the group but also stepped into the role of photographer, capturing moments of pride and joy from his students. Watching and listening to young people of different nationalities perform Mexican music and Christmas carols with such enthusiasm was the clearest reminder that talent knows no borders. When there is passion, discipline, and a teacher who truly believes in his students, all that’s left to do is enjoy the moment.

Curious to learn more about him and his musical journey, I later sought him out at The Woodlands High School. There, the hallways echo not only with bells signaling the change of classes. From one of the Arts classrooms emerge sounds that connect generations, cultures, and emotions: guitarrones, violins, vihuelas, and young voices that together tell a different kind of story.

That is where you find Christian Ponce, 28 years old, Mariachi Director and Assistant Orchestra Director. A young teacher who does not raise his voice to impose authority, but instead leads through closeness, passion, and example. We spoke Sin Libreto—without a script—and it quickly became clear that what happens in his classroom goes far beyond music.

“Music was always present in my home,” Christian tells us. “My parents played mariachi while cleaning, after dinner, during family gatherings. That stayed with me.” He was born in Pasadena, Texas, into a Mexican family where music was not a luxury, but a way of being together.

That early love turned into a calling when, at age 11, he picked up a viola for the first time in his school cafeteria. He didn’t know how to read music and had never played the instrument, but something clicked. Music became his refuge, his language, and his safe place during a stage of life when he didn’t always feel socially comfortable.

Choosing to teach when the easier path exists

Christian did not choose music out of convenience. He chose to stay when many leave. He chose teaching when others seek more visible stages. He was inspired by his high school teachers—those who, as he recalls, “did far more than their contracts required, simply because they cared about their students.”

He studied music, graduated in 2020, and began teaching at a junior high school. Soon, he realized he wanted to work with older adolescents, guiding them through a complex, intense, and decisive stage of life. In 2022, he arrived at The Woodlands High School, where one question would shape his future:

“Do you know mariachi?”“Of course,” he replied. “I grew up with that music.”

What he didn’t know at the time was that he was about to build—almost from scratch—one of the most meaningful mariachi programs in the area.

A Mariachi that breaks stereotypes

The Mariachi Christian leads defy clichés. It is not an exclusively Mexican group. Among its members are American, Venezuelan, Chilean, Indian, Russian students, and many other backgrounds.

“We only have two or three Mexican students,” he explains. “And yet, everyone deeply respects the culture, learns the musical language, the traditions, and the meaning behind each song. That’s the most beautiful part.”

In a community where The Woodlands is not traditionally associated with mexican music, the Mariachi has become a cultural bridge—an inclusive space where identity invites rather than excludes.

Music in the age of screens

In a hyperconnected generation, holding teenagers’ attention is no easy task. Christian knows this well.

“If I lose their attention, they go to their phones or something else,” he says honestly.

“That’s why I try to make rehearsals as engaging as possible—but above all, I get to know them as people.”

His message is clear: not all students will become professional musicians, but all can take something valuable with discipline, teamwork, sensitivity, and perseverance. “Music doesn’t end here. I have former students who are now in college and still play, even in small groups. That alone is a victory.”

Growing—quite literally—together

In just one year, the mariachi grew from 15 to nearly 30 members, doubling in size. They have been invited to Hispanic Heritage Month events, school concerts, and performances outside Houston. They compete, travel, and perform for audiences who receive them with enthusiasm, even when technical perfection is not the goal.

“Seeing them in their mariachi suits, so young, standing in front of an audience that applauds them—that has no price,” Christian admits.

That growth also brings challenges: a need for more instruments, costumes, and resources to welcome future generations. Today, he is actively seeking sponsors and donations, with the vision of expanding the program to the junior high feeder schools.

A teacher who continues to learn

Christian does not romanticize his role. He acknowledges the unseen work required to sustain a high-level program. He recalls how, in the beginning, he would come home to practice guitar and study repertoire so he could stay “one week ahead” of his students—just as his own professors once advised him.

He expresses deep gratitude to his mentor, Mr. Michaelsen, Orchestra Director and Head of the Arts Program, who started the mariachi program and trusted him to carry it forward. “Without his support and experience, this wouldn’t be possible,” he says.

More than music: belonging

At the end of our conversation, Christian offers a simple yet powerful invitation to students:

“Come in. Step into the room. Listen—even if you don’t know how to play. Interest starts there. And it’s never too late to learn an instrument.”

That message says it all. What Christian Ponce is building being not just a music program—it is a space where young people find identity, purpose, and a community that supports them during one of the most complex stages of life.

And if Mariachi continues to resonate through The Woodlands High School, there will be stories—like this one—that deserves to be told.

*Journalist with more than 25 years of experience across multiple media outlets. Holds a postgraduate degree as a Specialist in Public Opinion and a Master’s in Political Science with an emphasis on Public Policy. She is the founder and director of WoodlandStories Magazine.