UC Irvine's Mariachi Band Serenades Campus for Valentine's Day

The 15-person mariachi group went viral for their heartfelt performances across campus.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The mariachi band at the University of California, Irvine, known as Mariachi Orgullo de UCI, offered to perform serenades for students and staff throughout the Valentine's Day weekend. The group, which became the first mariachi band at UCI two years ago, serenaded from early morning to late at night on the busiest days of February 13th and 14th, quickly going viral for their heartfelt performances.

Why it matters

The mariachi band's Valentine's Day serenades helped foster a sense of community and cultural connection on the diverse UC Irvine campus. As a relatively new student organization, the group's popularity and ability to surprise and delight students showcases how music can bring people together, especially during special occasions.

The details

Mariachi Orgullo de UCI was founded two years ago as the first mariachi band at UC Irvine. The 15-person group typically performs at campus events, but their Valentine's Day serenades were by far their most popular endeavor. They serenaded students and staff from 7am to 10pm on the busiest days of February 13th and 14th, with the group's president Brendaitzel Torres saying they "started serenading from February 1st to the 14th ... and we've been pretty busy." The band is saving the money they earn from the performances to purchase their own mariachi suits.

  • Mariachi Orgullo de UCI became an on-campus organization two years ago.
  • The group serenaded from February 1st to February 14th, with the busiest days being February 13th and 14th.
  • They serenaded from 7am to 10pm on the busiest days.

The players

Mariachi Orgullo de UCI

The 15-person mariachi band at the University of California, Irvine, which became the first mariachi group on the campus two years ago.

Brendaitzel Torres

The president of Mariachi Orgullo de UCI.

Emmanuel Patterson

A student who booked a serenade for his girlfriend, Alexandra Trejo, as a surprise while she was at UC Irvine.

Alexandra Trejo

Emmanuel Patterson's girlfriend, who was surprised by the mariachi serenade while at UC Irvine.

Evelyn Vaca

A student who was surprised by the mariachi band's serenade at 7am, set up by her mom to make the holiday feel more like home while on campus.

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What they’re saying

“We started serenading from February 1st to the 14th ... and we've been pretty busy. The busiest days are the 13th and the 14th, which we started serenading from 7 in the morning all the way to 10 in the night.”

— Brendaitzel Torres, President of Mariachi Orgullo de UCI (abc7.com)

“Her roommate told me about the mariachi, and she told me what her favorite song from them was, and so I booked it and I made the plan to drive down to her.”

— Emmanuel Patterson (abc7.com)

“It was really surprising because I wasn't expecting it. I'm just seeing his face and I'm like, 'What are you doing here? Then seeing the mariachi band.”

— Alexandra Trejo (abc7.com)

“It was really so nice, and I did not expect that at all for my mom to do that for me. It was so sweet.”

— Evelyn Vaca, Student (abc7.com)

“It's honestly probably going to be like my favorite one.”

— Alexandra Trejo (abc7.com)

What’s next

The mariachi band plans to continue performing at campus events throughout the year, and they are saving money from their Valentine's Day serenades to purchase their own mariachi suits.

The takeaway

Mariachi Orgullo de UCI's viral Valentine's Day serenades showcased how music can bring a diverse campus community together and foster a sense of cultural connection. The group's popularity and ability to surprise and delight students highlights the power of student organizations to create memorable experiences on college campuses.