There are some excellent mariachi groups participating in this year’s Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza including a performance from McAllen based Mariachi Los Arrieros on Saturday, December 3. The group is one of the strongest professional mariachi groups across the country today and will open for Mariachi Vargas in concert at the Lila Cockrell Theater. Continue reading ‘Mariachi Los Arrieros to Open for Vargas’
The spirit of mariachi is captured in sculptures, paintings, drawings, craft work and photography during the annual mariachi-themed art exhibit, reception and competition at the Centro Cultural Aztlán on Tuesday, November 29 at 6:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and is part of San Antonio’s 17th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza that runs November 27 – December.
Special guest, Colorado based master artist, painter and sculpturist, Emanuel Martinez will display his work along with San Antonio based artists Rita Linda Abrego, Irma Al-Sadig Hernandez, Rosa Fernandez, Oscar Galvan, Jr., Hector Garza, Esther Guajardo, Maria Citlali Guido, Jeff Hull, Luis Hurtado, Paul Karam, Melinda Martinez, Guadalupe Muñoz, Angelina Pliego, Israel Rico, Cedric Rodriguez, Raul Servin, Steve Smith, Victor Tello, Jaclyn Valdez, Carla Veliz, Stephanie Zapata and Alicia Zavala Galvan.
Continue reading ‘Mariachi-Themed Art Exhibit will feature special guest’
Talented mariachi musicians and vocalists are surrounded by thousands of Christmas lights that adorn the Rivercenter Mall Lagoon during performances that start at 6:00 p.m. It’s the Serenata en el Rio on the Riverwalk in the Rivercenter Center Mall Lagoon area off Commerce Street. The experience is similar to Plaza Garibaldi in Mexico City where mariachi groups and vocalists gather around and perform for audiences. The only difference is that it’s free and open to the public and tipping is not expected. The event offers locals the opportunity to officially welcome participating mariachi groups and vocalists who travel from as far away as Boston, Massachusetts to participate in San Antonio’s 17th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza. It’s a beautiful evening filled with the spirit of Christmas you’ll want to experience with friends, family and loved ones.
Continue reading ‘Join in the Christmas Spirit with Serenata en el Rio’
The Mariachi Mass at San Fernando Cathedral is the first official event of San Antonio’s 17th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza. It’s a significant cultural event because the tradition of incorporating mariachi music into Catholic masses in South Texas is quiet common. Also many mariachi musicians who play today began playing mariachi music through the church.
Vocal Finalist Citlaly Alvarez and State Farm Agent Anahi Pineda
Tune it to KENS-TV Great Day SA Tuesday, November 22 between 9-10 am for a sneak peek of one of 37 vocal finalists competing in San Antonio’s 17th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza Vocal Competition. Ten year old Citlaly Alvarez from San Antonio will give a sample of what audiences can expect to see at the world’s largest, longest running and most competitive mariachi group and vocal competitions. The caliber of singers participating in this year’s event represent the best of young mariachi vocalists in the U.S. from elementary to college age.
Continue reading ‘Tune in to KENS TV for Sneak Peak of Vocal Finalists’
New on the list of events taking place as part of San Antonio’s 17th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza is an original mariachi music songwriting competition. Original songs and arrangements are wanted for submission. Songs must be recorded and emailed as an MP3 file to cynthia@mariachimusic.com by Monday, November 21.
San Antonio’s 17th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza serves host to the largest, longest running and most competitive mariachi vocal competition in the U.S. Vocal finalists have been selected and will be posted on Sunday, October 30 at 10 am. on mariachimusic.com.
The preliminary screening was extremely tough to judge as so many talented entries were submitted and the talent gets tougher every year. All students who submitted their CD are to applauded for their efforts. Vocal finalists will compete at the Lila Cockrell Theater on Saturday, December 3 at 9 a.m. Members of Mariachi Vargas will judge the competition. One student will be selected as the best vocalist in the U.S. and will be invited to open for Mariachi Vargas in concert in San Antonio.
The vocal competition is open to the public with purchase of a wristband. Call Sandra Guevara at 210-225-3353 to order your wristbands today or email her at sandra@mariachimusic.com.
Mariachimusic.com will launch a mariachi radio talk show MariachiMusic.com LIVE. The talk show is an extension of mariachimusic.com. MariachiMusic.com LIVE is a bilingual, radio talk show airing on KEDA-AM 1540 which can be heard in San Antonio and surrounding areas. The shows’ mission is to provide a platform to listen to mariachi music and introduce people involved in the mariachi music industry. Live interviews with mariachi musicians and vocalists will take place and information and news on what’s happening will be provided.
Mariachi music is seldom played on radio stations across the country yet a huge fan base supports live mariachi music productions. MariachiMusic.com LIVE provides a platform to support mariachi groups and vocalists who are writing and recording their own music. It’s another way to support the growing mariachi music industry in Texas and throughout the Southwestern part of the United States. Live mariachi music productions, the mariachimusic.com website and MariachiMusic.com LIVE will work collectively to continue promoting the Latino culture through mariachi music.
MariachiMusic.com LIVE will begin November 2 from 6:00 - 6:30 p.m. Hosts of the show will include Cynthia Munoz, producer of San Antonio’s 17th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza and Miguel Guevara, long time supporter of the event. The two have joined efforts with KEDA Radio’s new owner Jerry Benavides, owner of Claro Communications, to produce the show.
Be sure to listen to MariachiMusic.com LIVE on KEDA AM 1540 for upcoming interviews with Houston based Vanessa Alonso, Mariachi Extravaganza vocal competition finalists, Alex Trevino, Director of Mariachi Los Arrieros and members of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan. That’s every Wednesday from 6-6:30 p.m. starting November 2 on KEDA AM 1540 (http://www.kedaradio.com/).
Mariachi groups and individuals can register now to participate in San Antonio’s 17th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza. The early registration deadline to secure a spot in mariachi workshops and competitions is November 10. Register as a group or individual before this date to avoid paying the late fee. The final day to register for the Extravaganza is November 17. Registrations will not be accepted after that date.
The mariachi instrumental and vocal workshops are scheduled for Friday, December 2 at the Lila Cockrell Theater and Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Mariachi group competitions will take place that evening at the Lila Cockrell Theater starting at 5 p.m. The student vocal competitions will take place Saturday, December 3 also at the Lila Cockrell Theater starting at 9 a.m. First place winners for each group category and the “Best Mariachi Vocalist in the US” will be invited to open for Mariachi Vargas at the Lila Cockrell Theater. (See below for wristband information to attend competitions.)
Click Here to purchase tickets to see Mariachi Vargas in concert at the Lila Cockrell Theater. TWO concerts will be held on Saturday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 4 at 3 p.m.
Over 1,000 mariachi musicians will convene in San Antonio for more than 100 live performances during the city’s 17th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza November 27 through December 4. The 8-day mariachi music festival is the largest and longest running mariachi music event of its kind in the U.S. Competitive mariachi group and vocal competitions, spectacular mariachi concerts and numerous free community presentations and performances are scheduled. The Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza is named after the internationally acclaimed and Mexico City based, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán who performed their first US mariachi festival in San Antonio in 1979.
**Wristbands to attend the group and vocal competition should be purchased in advance for $7 by calling 210-225-3353. Wristbands may be purchased at the door for $10. Limited seating is available so please purchase wristbands in advance. The purchase of one wristband allows for entry into both the mariachi group and vocal competition.
MARIACHI SOL DE MEXICO DE JOSE HERNANDEZ WITH VIKKI CARR
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10 AT 7:30PM
Los Angeles based Mariachi Sol de Mexico will perform in Austin, Texas at the Long Center for the Performing Arts next month. Sol de Mexico offers traditional mariachi sounds embellished with fresh contemporary passion and powerful new rhythms. The deep love and passion the ensemble members share for mariachi perfectly captures the spirit and artistry of their culture.
Sharing the stage will be special guest Vikki Carr, the Grammy Award-winning, Texas-born singer whose five-decade career spans 60 best-selling recordings and at least two continents. Her music embraces both English and Spanish, and she is among the first artists to have bridged the cultures of the United States and Latin America. The event is sure to be a very special musical evening made possible by community partners like Univision TV and the Hispanic Alliance for the Arts.
Members of Mariachi Sol de Mexico include Director: Jose Hernandez, Violins: Erick Hernandez, Fernando Moreno, Guadalupe Gonzalez, Gustavo Peña, Joaquin Rodriguez and Roberto Lopez; Trumpets: Jorge Contreras, Roberto Diazs; Vihuela: Antonio Zuniga, Guitar: Jesus Hernandez; Guitarron: Jorge Flores, Arpa: Guillermo Acuña.
For more information or to purchase tickets visit http://www.thelongcenter.org/mariachi_sol_de_mexico.aspx
