Summer is here and students have the opportunity to register for the first ever Mariachi Extravaganza Summer Vocal Camp in San Antonio June 25-29. Leading the camp as vocal instructors will be Steeven Sandoval and Jose “Pepe” Martinez, Jr., vocalists and violinists for the world renowned and Mexico City based Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan. That’s right!!! Steeven and Pepe, Jr. will be in San Antonio for an entire week working with vocalists interested in polishing their vocal technique and skills.
In the past few years several of the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza participants have auditioned for TV reality shows. Esteban Velasquez from Odessa auditioned for “La Academia” and made it to the top 10 finalists out of thousands of vocalists in Latin America. Both Virginia Stille and Vanessa (Cerda) Alonzo from Houston auditioned for Tengo Talento Mucho Talento and both made it on the show as a finalist in 2010 (Virginia) and 2011 (Vanessa). Sebastian Vela from Premont and Victoria Acosta from San Antonio both auditioned for American Idol with English songs. Sebastian made it through several rounds during his 2010 audition.
Continue reading ‘Mariachi Artists Compete for TV Reality Shows’
Veteran’s Middle School Mariachi has placed first in San Antonio’s Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza for the past two years in a row. The group sets the standard for mariachi music programs among elementary/middle schools. They’re level of performance is beyond any elementary/middle school mariachi in the history of mariachi music education and the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza. The Metropolitan Nashville Public School System was impressed with the group’s YouTube video from their award-winning performance during San Antonio’s 17th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza and invited them to travel to Nashville to help start mariachi music programs in the school district.
Eloy Garza, mariachi director for Veteran’s Middle School, attributes the group’s accomplishments to the dedication, hard work, long hours of practice and passion students have for mariachi music. “I often remind our students to be the best and strive for excellence and perfection as we’re representing the entire country as first place winner of the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza,” says Eloy.
Twelve students will travel to Nashville along with the school principal Maricela O. Garcia, Eloy Garza and Veteran’s Middle School Spanish teacher Maggie Rodriguez. The group will spend May 17-19 in the ‘country music capital of the world.’ We wish them all the best and will be looking out for fabulous photos and stories upon your return.
Details have been confirmed for 3 upcoming shows with Mariachi Vargas in Texas. Mark your calendars for a September 26 concert in Dallas followed by a September 29 in Corpus Christi. San Antonio’s 18th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza is set for Nov. 30 – Dec. 1. We’ll keep you posted on when tickets go on sale for these cities. Stay tuned for more details coming your way on mariachimusic.com.
Congratulations to Alvaro Paulino, director of Mariachi Tapatio and mariachi director/founder of the New York City Mariachi Conservatory, for leading the first ever mariachi master apprentice program in New York City this summer. Workshops take place June 17-June 23, 2012 with special guests Alicia Juarez (“La Musa de Musas” el ultimo amor de Jose Alfredo Jimenez), Miguel Martinez Dominguez (Primer Trompetista del Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan), Jonathan Clark (Mariachi historian), Gil Sperry (Author of “Mariachi Gringo”) and Jose Hernandez (Director of Mariachi Sol de Mexico).
Breathtaking performances from San Antonio’s 17th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza Vocal Competition winners can now be viewed on the Mariachimusicdotcom channel on Youtube. Recapture the moment of Clyde Guerra’s rendition of “Esclavo y Amo,” Alyssa Guerra’s version of “No Volvere” and other first, second and third place winners in the elementary, middle school, high school and college/university categories. It’s so fun to watch and learn from these fabulous performances and to see how quickly the students mature year after year. Stay tuned for possible mariachi vocal workshops that will be taking place this summer in San Antonio. Details are being confirmed at this time. Stand by for more information coming your way soon!
The complete list of new videos uploaded are:
Elementary School Category
1st Sebastien De La Cruz- Huapango Torero
2nd Zuriel Longoria- Ese Chaparrito
3rd Bryanna Rich- El Pastor
Middle School Category
1st Giana Mijares- Luna Llena
2nd Julissa Rios- Porque No Le Calas
3rd Alyssa Guerra- No Volvere
High School Category
1st Clyde Guerra- Esclavo y Amo
2nd Angela Salas- Cuando El Destino
3rd Paula Garza- Auxilio Me Estoy Enamorando
College/University Category
1st Celeste Rios- La Malagueña
2nd Karen Zavala- Juan Colorado
3rd Erica Lazo- Si Quieres
San Antonio’s 18th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza is set for December 1 at the Lila Cockrell Theater. Mariachi group and vocal competitions will be held Friday, November 30 and Saturday, December 1.
This summer, San Antonio’s Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza will be featured in a captivating one hour documentary called “Mariachi High,” which will air nationally on PBS as part of the PBS Arts Summer Festival Series. “Mariachi High” paints a portrait of growing up Mexican American by relaying the experiences of champion high school mariachi musicians in South Texas.
“Vive una Noche Mexicana!” On Saturday March 31, Mariachi Vargas will be at the Plaza Theatre in El Paso, Texas showcasing breathtaking performances. The show begins at 8:00 and tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745-3000.
On Saturday, March 24, Mariachi Vargas will go head-to-head, for the first time ever, with the entire string section of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra at the Morial Convention Center Theater in New Orleans! Come watch this exhilarating performance at the Pan American Life’s Fiesta Sinfonica starring Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán and the LPO concert for only $10, and cheer on el mejor mariachi del mundo!
For more information on this “musical duel” or to purchase tickets, Click Here.
Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza Vocal Competition winners will perform at the Wonderland Mall of the Americas on Saturday, March 24 at 1:00 p.m. A list of talented students, accompanied by Trio Los Yaquis, join to celebrate the mall’s Mariachi month and present live entertainment to the public for free!
We want to give a special thanks to Azucena Ramirez, Wonderland’s Marketing Director, for providing the platform to showcase Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza Competition Winners in such a lively event!
Performers include:
- Bryanna Rich, 3rd Place, Elementary, 2011, Carroll Bell Elementary School, San Antonio, Texas
