Sones de México Ensemble was formed as a quartet in 1994. They added a fifth member later that year and expanded to six members in 1997, a format that they maintain until this day. As older members retired or moved on to other artistic pursuits, a new “second generation” was recruited, starting with Lorena Iñiguez and Zacbe Pichardo in 2003 & 2006 respectively and continuing through 2015, when they were joined by Rudy Piñon and Eric Hines. Juan Díes and Gonzalo Cordova remain as original founding members.

Meet the Band

2017

Sones-De-Mex_Zacbe-Harp

Zacbe Pichardo

Member 2006-Present

Harp, Huapangera, Marimba, Percussion, Accordion

Zacbé Pichardo is a harpist, marimba and percussion player with the ensemble. He has a composition degree…

Sones-De-Mex_Eric_Cajon

Eric Hines

Member 2015-Present

Drums, Percussion, Marimba

Dr. Eric Hines is a professional percussionist and educator residing in Chicago, IL. An accomplished performer of…

Karen Marcial

Karen Marcial

Member 2019-Present

Violin, Vocals

Karen Marcial is a singer and a violinist form Chicago. Her family hails from Guadalajara, Jalisco. She studied mariachi music under Victor Pichardo while attending middle school in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. Later, she became a teaching assistant at Orozco Academy. Karen has a degree from University of Illinois Chicago and joined Sones de Mexico Ensemble in the fall of 2019.

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Juan Díes

Member 1994-Present

Producer, Director, Bass, Guitarron, Guitar, Harmonica, Flute, Percussion, Vocals

Juan Díes was raised in San Luis Potosi, Mexico where he first developed a passion for music, learning to play the guitar at age six. At age 18, he..

Victor_Pichardo

Victor Pichardo

Member 1994-2013 2018-Present

Music Director, Violin, Guitar, Clarinet, Jarana, Marimba, Vocals

Rudy_Pinon

Rudy Piñon

Member 2003, 2015-2016, 2018-present

Violin, Requinto, Guitarron Vihuela, Trumpet, Bajo Sexto, Vocals

Rudy Piñon began studying Mexican music in high school under Sones de Mexico Ensemble’s founding Music Director Victor Pichardo. He developed as a multi-instrumentalist and pursued a career in mariachi music, playing with he top groups in Chicago for almost 20 years. He joined Sones de Mexico Ensemble in 2016.

Past Band Members

1994

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Lorena Iñiguez

Zapateado, Vihuela, Jarana, Drums, Percussion

Member 2003- 2017 

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Gonzalo Cordova

Guitar, Jarana, Requinto Percussion, Vocals

Member 1994-2002, 2014-2018

Gonzalo Cordova is an interpreter of music. His background is steeped in traditional and popular Latin music ranging

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Juan Rivera

Violin, Requinto, Guitar, Percussion, Vocals

Member 2005-2015 

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Javier Saume

Drums, Percussion, Marimba, Maracas

Member 2006-2013, 2014-2015

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Jorge Leal

Drums, Percussion, Marimba 

Member 2014

Rene_Cardoza

Rene Cardoza

Member 1994-2003, 2017-2018

Zapateado, Guitar, Vihuela, Jarana, Flute, Violin

Renato

Renato Ceron

Violin, Harp, Accordion, Sax, Vocals

Member 1997-2006

Joel Martinez

Joel Martinez

Drums, Percussion

Member 2003-2006

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Raul Fernandez

Drums, Percussion, Requinto

Member 1994-2003

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Erendira Izguerra

Violin, Clarinet, Jarana, Vocals

Member 2017-Present

Hermo

Hermo Contreras

Guitar, Huapanguera, Vocals

Member 2002-2003