LOS ANGELES — With the largest Latino population in the country, it’s no surprise that California would host the first mariachi with academic and professional training outside of Mexico.    

That’s why UCLA started its own called Mariachi de Uclatlán, a group made up of students — both graduate and undergrads — and is the first ensemble of its kind to be created at an academic university.

They’ve been teaching the history of mariachi, performing and preserving the traditions of the music for more than 60 years.