Directed by guitarron player Marisa Orduno and musical director and violinist Laura Sobrino, the group includes six women formerly with the first all-woman mariachi group in the United States, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles. While they remain rooted in mariachi, Mariachi Mujer 2000 incorporates a dance-inspiring mixture of mariachi, classical, jazz, pop, country, salsa, and Huasteco. A native of Fresno, CA, Orduno (b. December 7, 1969) spent five years on the northern California mariachi circuit. In addition to joining with leading mariachi performers -- Lola Bettran, Lucha Villa, and Miguel Aceves Mejia -- in a Living Legends show, she performed with such Latin jazz musicians as Tito Puente, Pancho Sanchez, and Arturo Sandoval. Moving to Southern California in 1983, Orduno spent six years with Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles before forming Mariachi Mujer 2000.

Watsonville, CA-born Sobrino (b. 1954) is recognized as the second woman in the United States to become a professional mariachi musician. The first woman to play with Mariachi Los Galleros de Pedro Rey and Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez, Sobrino was the original music director of Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles.

Mariachi Mujer 2000 plan to release their debut album in late 2000. ~ Craig Harris