Mariachi Perla del Medio Oeste was created in 2018 as a joint initiative between Latin American Music Center at the Jacobs School of Music, the La Casa/Latino Cultural Center and the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology. The group is a volunteer ensemble committed to the cultivation and promotion of Mexican-American,  Mexican and Latin American music and culture, both within IU and the larger Southern Indiana region. Its members include IU undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the larger Bloomington community. Over the years, the mariachi has counted with the participation of musicians originally from the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Peru, Spain, and Venezuela.

The ensemble performs regularly for a variety of campus events, local festival, and private parties. The group is committed to working with musicians from a broad range of musical backgrounds and abilities and is always open to considering new members. Rehearsals take place most Sundays between 3-4:30pm, during the Fall and Spring semesters. Anyone interested in more information about the group should contact Javier León (jfleon@iu.edu)