Be sure to watch NBC’s America’s Got Talent to see Roma High School’s Mariachi Nuevo Santander on the Season 12 audition that premieres TONIGHT – May 30 at 7 pm. These longtime Roma, Texas participants, competitors and winners of San Antonio’s Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza will perform mariachi music at its finest for an expected 13.5 million viewers!!! This will be an exciting moment for all of the fans and followers of this outstanding group that represents the very best of today’s young mariachi talent.
There are many reasons why Roma High School is #1 when it comes to high school mariachi music programs across the nation. I’ve often asked why and how there is so much incredible talent in a South Texas town of less than 11,000 people. The answer is that Roma champions music in a big way. Whether it’s at a family get-together, church, a quinceañera or a wedding, kids are encouraged to sing for family and friends from an early age. The music is embedded into every aspect of the culture in Roma, and, in many of the cities surrounding this town in the Rio Grande Valley area. Strong encouragement to showcase young talent, combined with support from the local school district, has a huge impact in creating award-winning artists. It also helps that Roma’s mariachi music program was founded years ago by Yamil Yunes who has a long-time reputation of being one of the all-time greatest mariachi instructors in Texas. Eloy Garza is the group’s current director who has carried on the passion and commitment for mariachi music that was established by Mr. Yunes. The support of family and community is the icing the cake in creating the top-rated high school mariachi music program in the country.
One thing for certain is that Mariachi Nuevo Santander will make all of us in the mariachi music family proud when they appear on AGT tonight. Not only does Roma have the top-rated mariachi music program in the nation, but theirs can stand up to any top-rated performing arts program of any kind in the U.S.!!!!! Congratulations to the entire Roma community for auditioning for the show, and thank you for presenting the very best of nuestra cultura.
We’ll be watching the tube closely tonight with great anticipation, just like when Sebastien de la Cruz appeared on the same show back in 2012. It’s hard to believe that it’s already been five years since we saw this San Antonio native climb to the TOP 10 of AGT. His 2012 performance certainly opened the door for other mariachi artists who followed, like California-based Alondra Santos and San Antonio-based Mariachi Nuevo Estillo. Whenever AGT presents mariachi artists, the influence on the growth of this music we love and cherish is immediate. Sebastien has enjoyed numerous invitations for performances, film projects and media interviews since his appearance on AGT. We hope for the same and more for Nuevo Santander. Whether they move up to the next round, or not, the publicity and attention given to mariachi musicians and vocalists by AGT helps us everyone involved in mariachi music. There’s a tremendous amount of excitement built around such high level publicity throughout the world and the love and passion these kids have for mariachi music is contagious!!!!
Please feel free to post your comments or questions on this blog prior to, during or after the AGT premiere, and I’ll do my best to answer them.
Thanks to all of the kids from the town of Roma who have already registered to participate in this year’s Mariachi Extravaganza Summer Camp in San Antonio at the Tobin Center’s Carlos Álvarez Theater June 19-23. As a reminder, early registration runs through June 1. Visit the blog section on mariachimusic.com for more details!
GOOD LUCK TONIGHT ROMA!!!!!!
Looking forward to watching this amazing group of young musicians tonight on America’s Got Talent. So glad to see the beautiful mariachi culture and South Texas represented on the national stage!! Good luck to Mariachi Nuevo Santander from Roma, TX!!
Good Luck Roma!!! Can’t wait to see you all tonight.
It’s amazing to see such awesome talent come out of Roma, Texas! I love how mariachi music is making it’s way to the top, and to see it succeed every time on this show! I know I’ll be watching!! Can’t wait!
Nuevo Santander’s got stiff competition with that chicken who can play the piano! OMG. Who would have every thought!
Amazing brother/sister salsa duo team from San Francisco with a great story that brought tears to my eyes! Now anticipating Nuevo Santander. Can’t wait!!! Good luck!
I’m seeing lots of great talent in this new season of AGT but the best is yet to come!
Hilarious singing Trump!
So we saw a glimpse of Mariachi Nuevo Santander in this first week of the new season premiere of AGT. There were shots of them sporadically througjhout this first episode. Stay tuned next week, same day, same time for for more auditions that I’m sure will continue for at least a couple more weeks. The excitement continues!