Luis “Tito” Talamantes is a proud Titan alumn (c/o 2009). He was a founding member of Mariachi Chavez in 2005 and has been a Mariachi educator in the Stockton Unified School District since 2014. His ensembles have been invited to the White House (2016), The Kennedy Center for the performing arts (2018), performed for Motown legend singer-songwriter, Smokey Robinson, have placed in many national competitions, opened for comedian George Lopez. In 2023 a Swiss short film entitled, L’Artificier will feature some of Chavez High school Mariachi music.

Mariachi Chavez performing "I Second that Emotion" with Sokey Robinson

Talamantes' published musical works focus on exercises for the classroom mariachi ensemble and pieces for young mariachi ensembles. His marching band arrangements have been played by numerous ensembles in the Midwest, Colorado, and even Cornell University’s Big Red Marching Band. Talamantes has also written pieces for the American Strings Teachers Association for Mariachi and string orchestra and has led several Mariachi education clinics in Northern California.

In 2021, Talamantes helped launch UC Davis's Mariachi course, where he directed the Ensemble until 2024. Talamantes currently directs Mariachi Ocelotlan at the University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music.