By News and Media Relations

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – FEB. 13, 2026 – Jose Villarreal, a graduate student at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and a dedicated music teacher, has turned his passion for classical guitar into a fulfilling career, even sharing the stage with renowned Mexican rock band Maná.

His love for music began in high school and continued to flourish at UTRGV, where he earned two degrees – Bachelor of Music in 2013 and a Master of Contemporary Music Performance in 2015. Today, Villarreal is an educator at Texas Southmost College in Brownsville where he teaches students how to refine their craft. He encourages aspiring musicians to be well-prepared and strive for excellence in developing their skills.

“Find a good teacher and a good place where you can develop that (skills). For me, this (UTRGV) has definitely been a great place to do that,” he said.

“Find a good teacher and a good place where you can develop that (skills). For me, this (UTRGV) has definitely been a great place to do that." (UTRGV Photo by Elijah Noriega)

Villarreal, from Brownsville, said the university has played a crucial role in shaping his identity as a musician and educator, and he is currently pursuing another graduate degree in Classical Guitar Performance Music. He attributes much of his growth to one-on-one mentoring, live performance experiences and participation in the annual Guitar Festival at UTRGV during his studies. 

In addition, Villarreal has an extensive performance history of more than 20 years, and he surprised everyone by performing with the internationally acclaimed Maná last year at Red Rocks in Colorado.

“I was really nervous, and as soon as I got on stage, it went away,” he said. “Those guys just made me feel really relaxed, and we had a blast.” 

Villarreal hopes to instill discipline and courage in his students, inspiring them to pursue their dreams and embrace their creativity, much like he did during his time at UTRGV.