AUSTIN, Texas — For members of Mariachi Cielo Azul, a mariachi ensemble of current and former students of the University of Texas at Austin , mariachi is not just a genre of music – it is a passion and a way of connecting to their roots, their culture and with their humanity.

"Just all the emotions are heightened when you listen to mariachi music," Christian Núñez Delgado, a member of the group, said. "You never want to let a culture die, right?"

Now, these musicians are doing their part to carry it forward after learning the craft under the direction of a legendary mariachi master, Zeke Castro, who has an exhibit at the Bullock Texas State History Museum. He taught and played mariachi for more than 40 years and helped dozens of schools implement mariachi in their band and orchestra en

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