Mariachi Quetzal was founded in Geneva in 1994 by Mexican singer and guitarist Carlos Mancilla. He brought together different musicians from Mexico and Latin America to form a group with variable geometry, specializing in Mexican popular music: rancheras, boleros, corridos, huapangos and sones jalisciences.
Carlos left our world in 2014 after a long illness. Since then we have continued to faithfully honour and perpetuate the musical legacy he has left us.
Quetzal, a name of the ancient Aztec language (Nahuatl), means “feathered.” According to belief, it represents the divine powers. It is also the name of a bird with very colorful plumage living in southern Mexico and Central America. We chose QUETZAL as our group’s logo.
The Mariachis are the very essence of Mexican folklore and culture; they also bear witness to this with their traditional costumes, the charro.
Mariachi Quetzal uses typical instruments from the Mexican folk tradition: trumpet, violin, vihuela (five-string guitar), guitar and guitarron (Mexican bass guitar).
All our costumes come from Mexico City and are created by the master tailor Arreola, recognized by most of the great Mexican names: Mariachi Vargas of Tecalitlán, Vicente Fernandez, etc.
Our suits and sombreros, are similarly tone of color, same embroidery, buttons and same ties (moño). Mariachi Quetzal offers a unique sartorial harmony as well as a sumptuous aesthetic.
Since 1994, Mariachi Quetzal has given more than 1556 concerts and animations.
In concert, we use more than a dozen different instruments.
Musicians
Instruments in total
Concerts and animations
