Mariachi is the Mexican music ensemble often hired to perform at a quinceañera.
Mariachi groups commonly perform at family celebrations, religious events, birthdays, weddings, and quinceañeras. Their repertory may include rancheras, sones, boleros, and other Mexican songs. Depending on the event, the musicians may perform during the entrance, dinner, dancing, or a serenade.
Mariachi is not a single song or a fixed-size band. A group usually includes string instruments such as violins, guitars, vihuela, and guitarrón, and may also include trumpets. The instrumentation and lineup can vary.
UNESCO added mariachi to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011. Although mariachi is strongly associated with Mexico, performances at quinceañeras are common throughout Mexican and Mexican-American communities. Families may also choose DJs, recorded music, regional bands, or other musical styles.