Axel Rodríguez Olivas nervously steps on stage, carrying a violin. He raises his bow and begins to play, his nerves melting away. Mariachi music explodes throughout the room as violins, trumpets, the guitarrón, and a stringed instrument called the vihuela launch into an upbeat melody. There they are joined by a warm voice as a tenor begins to sing. The 20-year-old musician is set to become the first student to graduate with a minor in mariachi from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, one of the only universities in the country to offer such a niche specialization.

The Elisa Gastelum Memorial Foundation is keeping young musicians' dreams alive by awarding mariachi scholarships to Las Vegas students, including one UNLV student who hopes to become a teacher himself.

For Irvin Garcia, mariachi music has been part of his life since sixth grade. Saturday, his trumpet joined the sounds filling Craig Ranch Regional Park as North Las Vegas kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month.

Pepe Jimenez articulates what has been in my head for years regarding the UNLV Jazz and Commercial Music shows at Ham Hall.