Palmview HS conjunto group La Tradicion debuts song produced with Bobby Pulido

Correction: In the Progress Times issue 06/28, we incorrectly reported facts in the Palmview HS conjunto group La Tradicion debuts song produced with Bobby Pulido article.

When introducing Javier Loya, his title was incorrectly stated as PVHS Assistant Conjunto Director, not PVHS Conjunto Director. For students participating in the Que Agonia cover: Fernanda Sanchez did vocals and was incorrectly listed as the bass player. Rosa Vasquez, a Palmview HS graduate, played bass and was incorrectly identified as singing lead vocals. Palmview HS graduate Daniel Hernandez played the accordion on the cover, not Giovani Guerrero. Lastly, Edinburg celebrated its inaugural and first annual Corafest on April 13, 2024, not second annual as originally reported.

Two months after winning the opportunity to work with Tejano music icon and Latin Grammy winner Bobby Pulido, Palmview High School’s conjunto group La Tradicion debuted a song this past Saturday.

“Thanks to God, we won the competition,” said PVHS Conjunto Director Javier Loya, reflecting on the group’s win at the Edinburg Corafest Conjunto Competition in April.

The first of three song debuts, released last Saturday morning, is Que Agonia by Yuridia and Angela Aguilar.

Palmview HS senior Fernanda Sanchez leads vocals with senior Merari Uribe as harmony, while graduate Rosa Vasquez plays bass, and graduate Daniel Hernandez keys away on his accordion.

Aside from the music produced by Pulido, the video was shot in-house by La Joya ISD’s Media and TV team. In just four days, the music video received 20K views.

Dedication to the craft

Loya attributes La Tradicion’s success to hard work and dedication, a trait that has kept the group as an award-winning conjunto.

“They put a lot of time into it,” said the assistant director. “They would practice from Mondays through Thursdays at the school from 4:30 to 6:30. Two hours every day. I’d give them a break on Fridays.”

The conjunto music group is no stranger to musical achievement — garnering news coverage from Dallas to the Rio Grande Valley and placing first at the Annual ‘Texas Best’ Conjunto Competition in Brownsville, Texas, back-to-back in 2023 and 2024.

The group joined Edinburg’s first annual Corafest on a whim after being asked to compete among conjunto, norteño, and Tejano groups across the Valley.

“My teaching method is that I’m always saying yes before I say no,” said Loya, taking a chance to put his kids in the competition.

The opportunity of professional recording proved to ignite his students with remarkable confidence.

“It was an honor for me and the kids,” said Loya, recalling students’ reactions upon entering Pulido’s recording studio in McAllen. “They woke up excited that morning just knowing that we were going to record and go into the studio.”

How a district transfer earned a student the opportunity of a lifetime

With the group’s reputation and influence, some students are joining the conjunto program from neighboring school districts.

One student, incoming junior Guerrero, moved from Mission CISD to La Joya ISD in 2021 to join La Tradicion.

“I had auditioned before I made the change, and fortunately they invited me over to the school,” said Guerrero. “I was on my own, but I also had my conjunto friends…they would help me out a lot.”

As a freshman, Guerrero’s talents led him to the Texas Folklife’s Conjunto Champion title in the 16 and under category in 2023 at the Texas Big Squeeze contest.

“I’m very fortunate,” said Guerrero.

Loya expects the second song to be out in the fall, with a final and original song set for a later release date — where the spotlight closes in on Guerrero.

“It’s an amazing opportunity being able to work with a Tejano star that most people know,” said Guerrero. “Bobby’s team and our team — we were all putting our hearts in.”

As Loya and the assistant Zambrano prepare for a new school year, they remain in search of members to fill in spots graduates formerly filled.

Loya, who has been an educator for 18 years, further looks forward to the growth of conjunto recognition in the Valley and its school districts.

“My goal for them was to be noticed by the state,” said Loya. “I think I’ve done that. I’ve accomplished that.”

He hopes to aim higher and compete outside of the state level.

“My next goal before I retire is to make it nationwide,” he said, thanking La Joya ISD for allowing students the opportunity to accomplish the unimaginable. “People just want to be part of it and I’m just hoping this continues.”