🎺🎻 The countdown to the first-ever Avanzando Mariachi Conference continues, and we're excited to introduce another outstanding clinician who will be sharing his knowledge and experience with our students and educators!
Today, we're proud to spotlight Raúl Cuéllar Jr., a San Antonio native whose mariachi journey began at just 9 years old. Born and raised in San Antonio, Raúl was introduced to mariachi through his family and quickly developed a passion for the music that would shape his life's work.
A graduate of Lanier High School on San Antonio's West Side, Raúl learned mariachi through dedication, observation, and countless hours of performing throughout the city. Over the years, he built a reputation as an accomplished violinist, vocalist, educator, and performer, earning the respect of mariachi musicians across the country.
In 2007, Raúl joined Mariachi Los Camperos de Jesús "Chuy" Guzmán, the legendary three-time Grammy Award-winning ensemble. For nearly two decades, he has performed, recorded, and traveled with one of the most respected groups in mariachi history, helping preserve and advance this treasured musical tradition.
🔥 Don't miss this incredible opportunity to learn directly from Raúl Cuéllar Jr. and the world-renowned Mariachi Los Camperos de Jesús "Chuy" Guzmán at the Avanzando Mariachi Conference!
🎟️ Register today:
https://www.tobincenter.org/avanzando26
We can't wait to welcome mariachi educators, students, and musicians from across Texas and beyond to San Antonio this July!
GenerationNext Education Initiative
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Generation NEXT connects education and the arts, promoting creative classrooms and culturally relevant learning. 501 (c)3 Non-Profit
We believe creative empowerment is central to a 21st century education.
06/13/2026
⏳ We're just 2 days away from MOMENTUM – The Tobin Center's Third Annual Arts Integration Conference!
Meet Joyous Windrider Jiménez, one of our featured teaching artists.
📅 Monday, June 15, 2026
👩🏫 For Teachers PreK–12 and Arts Specialists
✨ FREE Professional Development in Arts Integration!
Joyous is a theatre artist, storyteller, and educator with more than 20 years of experience creating imaginative learning experiences for children. Through theatre, creative play, movement, and storytelling, she helps students build confidence, collaboration, and creativity.
At MOMENTUM, Joyous will present:
🎭 Thinking in Action: Whole-Body Strategies to Engage and Assess Students
In this interactive PK–2 workshop, educators will explore drama-based strategies that use movement, voice, collaboration, and storytelling to increase engagement, deepen comprehension, and provide authentic ways for students to demonstrate understanding.
Coffee, snacks, and FREE parking included!
Earn up to 7 hours of credit for full-day participation.
Five Artists • Nine Sessions • ALL FREE!
🔗 Register today: https://www.tobincenter.org/momentum
06/12/2026
⏳ We're just 3 days away from MOMENTUM – The Tobin Center's Third Annual Arts Integration Conference!
Meet Tanesha Payne, one of our featured teaching artists for this exciting day of professional learning.
📅 Monday, June 15, 2026
👩🏫 For Teachers PreK–12 and Arts Specialists
✨ FREE Professional Development in Arts Integration!
Tanesha Payne (she/they) is a dancer, creator, advocate, and teaching artist based in San Antonio. She is the founder and artistic director of sumRset Movement, a professional contemporary dance company in Central Texas, and brings more than 20 years of teaching experience to her work. With certifications through Wolf Trap and Focus 5, Tanesha is passionate about helping educators discover meaningful ways to integrate the arts into everyday learning.
At MOMENTUM, Tanesha will present:
🧩 STEM in Motion: Exploring Science & Math Through Playful Movement
In this joyful, movement-rich workshop, educators will discover how purposeful movement can help young learners build foundational science and math understanding while supporting creativity, problem-solving, and academic vocabulary development.
Coffee, snacks, and FREE parking included!
Earn up to 7 hours of credit for full-day participation.
Five Artists • Nine Sessions • ALL FREE!
Through the generosity of our donors, Generation NEXT is proud to offer a full day of professional learning at no cost to educators.
🔗 Register today: https://www.tobincenter.org/momentum
06/11/2026
We're just 4 days away from MOMENTUM – The Tobin Center's Third Annual Arts Integration Conference!
Meet Daniel Barash, one of our featured teaching artists for this exciting day of professional learning.
📅 Monday, June 15, 2026
👩🏫 For Teachers PreK–12 and Arts Specialists
✨ FREE Professional Development in Arts Integration!
Daniel Barash is the founding director of The Shadow Puppet Workshop and an internationally recognized arts educator who has pioneered the use of shadow puppetry in educational settings across the globe. With a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from New York University, Daniel has engaged more than 100,000 students through educational theater programs and has worked with learners in the United States, Belarus, India, Laos, and Lithuania.
At MOMENTUM, Daniel will lead two engaging workshops:
Shadow Play: Exploring Shadow Puppetry in the Early Years
Shadow Puppetry and the Power of the Changemaker: Exploring Historical Agency, Conflict, and the Courage to Create Change
Discover how shadow puppetry can spark creativity, strengthen storytelling skills, deepen historical understanding, and inspire students to see themselves as changemakers.
Coffee, snacks, and FREE parking included!
Credit is provided upon completion of each session, with up to 7 hours of credit available for full-day participation.
Five Artists • Nine Sessions • ALL FREE!
Through the generosity of our donors, Generation NEXT is proud to offer a full day of professional learning at no cost to educators. These inspiring workshops pair curricular content with art forms, providing STEAM strategies that can be implemented immediately in the classroom.
🔗 Learn more and register: https://www.tobincenter.org/momentum
🎺🎻 Only 41 days until the very first Avanzando Mariachi Conference in San Antonio, Texas!✨
Created to provide a space where mariachi educators and musicians of all ages can learn, grow, connect, and celebrate the rich tradition of mariachi, this conference is an incredible opportunity for our mariachi community.
Today, we're excited to introduce one of our featured clinicians: Antonio Guzmán!
A proud San Antonio native and multi-generational musician, Antonio graduated from Highlands High School right here in San Antonio before continuing his musical journey. In 2019, he joined the world-renowned Mariachi Los Camperos de Jesús "Chuy" Guzmán, where he has continued to share his passion, talent, and dedication to the mariachi tradition.
🔥 Don't miss your chance to learn directly from Antonio Guzmán and the internationally acclaimed Mariachi Los Camperos de Jesús "Chuy" Guzmán!
🎟️ Register today and be part of this historic first Avanzando Mariachi Conference!
🔗 https://www.tobincenter.org/avanzando26
We can't wait to welcome mariachi educators, students, and musicians from across Texas and beyond to San Antonio this July!
06/09/2026
The 2026 Bexar County Arts Internship Program has officially begun!
Today we had the honor of presenting the chosen organizations and their interns at Commissioner’s Court!
This program supports 14 non-profit arts organizations in hosting a summer intern where undergraduate students get a chance to learn about the non-profit world through hands on, meaningful experiences. The importance of this program is demonstrated each year as the need around the community grows, and it would not be possible without the support of Judge Sakai and the Bexar County Commissioner’s.
We are extremely proud of the interns and excited to hear about their summer experiences!
05/29/2026
This past Saturday, we had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the United Way Parent & Caregiver Leadership Summit at Region 20!
We were honored to speak with parents and caregivers about the importance of arts integration and how the arts can naturally connect to learning at home through math, literacy, science, and everyday experiences. From storytelling and music to movement and creativity, the arts provide meaningful ways for children to build confidence, critical thinking skills, and deeper connections to learning.
A special shoutout to our amazing teaching artist, CT Rhames, who absolutely rocked her session! Parents were up, moving, laughing, and fully engaged while exploring literacy through the classic story Goldilocks and the Three Bears. It was a beautiful example of how interactive arts experiences can make learning fun, memorable, and accessible for the whole family.
Thank you to United Way and Region 20 for inviting us to be part of such an inspiring event focused on empowering families and supporting student success. We loved sharing ideas, resources, and creative strategies with the community!
05/29/2026
✨ We are SO excited to welcome John Green-Otero as the keynote speaker for our 3rd Annual Arts Integration Conference: Momentum! For Teachers PreK - 12th grade and Arts Specialists.
FREE professional development in Arts Integration!
Get ready for an inspiring kickoff as we explore how story, movement, music, and creativity aren’t just extras in learning — they’re where learning begins. 🧠🎶📚
This is going to be a powerful day of connection, creativity, and reimagining what education can be.
Learn more and register today: https://www.tobincenter.org/momentum2026
05/20/2026
Yesterday, the Generation NEXT team tackled Austin to meet with State Senator Pete Flores as we continue advocating for greater access to arts education in rural communities across Texas.
As we expand our outreach into 8 surrounding counties — 4 of which fall within Senator Flores’ jurisdiction — we are seeing firsthand the growing need for arts education opportunities, arts integration programming, and professional development support for educators in rural schools. Every child deserves access to the arts, regardless of their zip code.
We are grateful for the opportunity to share the work Generation NEXT is doing beyond Bexar County and to continue building awareness with our state leaders about the importance of equitable arts access for all students.
The meeting went very well, and we look forward to continuing these important conversations while advocating for the students, teachers, and communities we serve.
05/13/2026
🖌️Calling all visual artists! 🎨
We’re looking for the official t-shirt design for the inaugural 2026 Avanzando Mariachi Conference at the Tobin Center!
Want a chance to win $300, have your artwork featured on our website, and be recognized at the conference? Submit your design and help us make history in style. ✨
📣 Show us your creativity — we can’t wait to see your work!
Submit your artwork here:
bit.ly/DesignTheAvanzandoTee
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
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100 Auditorium Circle
San Antonio, TX
78205