Thanks to everyone who submitted an entry for the Original Songwriting Competition. More entries were submitted this year than ever before and there is, no doubt, enormous talent in the mariachi community.
The emphasis on this year’s Original Songwriting Competition was inspired by Carlos Martínez and Mariachi Vargas’ recording of their latest single “Enamórame Otra Vez.” Our interest is to support original songwriters and give them a platform to perform their original songs on the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza stage in front of celebrity judges, with the opportunity to win cash prizes.
The competition will be judged by Carlos Martínez, Musical Director for Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, along with singer/songwriter Lupita Infante and Carlos Álvarez ofAzteca Records.
First, second and third place winners will be selected. Cash prizes will be offered in the amounts of $1,000, $750 and $500.
Finalists will perform on Friday, December 3, at 12 noon, at the Lila Cockrell Theatre. The competition is open to registered participants of the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza and selected media.
Congratulations to the following six finalists who were selected:
Claudia García, Los Angeles
Abiel Hinojosa, Roma
José Longoria, Houston
Carlos Maldonado, Kyle
Víctor Pichardo, Chicago
Baldemar “Baldo” Villarreal, San Antonio
In 2018, Claudia García released a rock en español album with her brother on guitar titled Ruby Clouds. Her song “Un Día de Éstos” is currently featured in the independent film La Leyenda Negra, which premiered at Sundance 2020 and is currently streaming on HBO Max. Claudia is a 2005 graduate from Harvard University where she earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Latin American Studies. She is the founder of Mariachi Veritas de Harvard, and is the mariachi director at two Los Angeles elementary schools.Abiel Hinojosa is the mariachi director for Mariachi Escandón at Roma Middle School in Roma, Texas. As a songwriter, he received a BMI award for his song “Fue su Amor” from the Alacranes Musical album Tu Inspiración, which received a Latin Grammy for Best Banda Album of the Year in 2008. Abiel is actively involved in the Arts and Culture committee for the city of Roma, and the Knights of Columbus Council 9982 in Escobares, Texas. José “Chabelo” Longoria is a third generation mariachi performer who has been teaching in Houston ISD schools for the past 21 years. Longoria is also the mariachi director for Mariachi Pumas at the University of Houston. Aside from sharing his passion for mariachi, Chabelo directs and performs with Mariachi Imperial de América, which has traveled abroad to perform in Canada, India, Beijing, Shanghai, France, Macedonia, Albania and Armenia.Carlos Maldonado is in his 22nd year as a music educator and is currently the mariachi director at Chapa Middle School in Kyle, TX. Relying on his years in mariachi education, Carlos provides his mariachi compositions, exercises and song arrangements to mariachi educators and musicians across the nation. He is the current editor of the mariachi ensemble warm-up column for the International Journal of Mariachi Education and Performance.
Víctor Pichardo is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and folklorist from Mexico City. He studied music composition at the Chicago Columbia College. With his folk music group Sones de Mexico Ensemble, Victor has been nominated for a Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY award. He recently collaborated with the Chicago Goodman Theatre as music director for the play American Mariachi.Baldemar “Baldo” Villarreal is a Mexican-born multi-instrumentalist who calls San Antonio home. With over 25 years experience in music, he is now known mainly as a producer and composer for many types of genres. Baldo holds a Masters degree in Philosophy and is currently working on his PhD at the University of the Incarnate Word. More info can be found at baldovilla.com.
The Original Songwriting Competition is one of three competitions taking place during this year’s Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza. Click here for a complete schedule of events.
Special thanks to Federico Chávez-Blanco, a longtime supporter of the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza and a composer who selected finalists for the Original Songwriting Competition.
The 27th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza is sponsored by Cano Health and H-E-B. Additional support is provided by KHS America, Whataburger and Texas Public Radio.
The Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza is a production of MPR (Muñoz Public Relations) based in San Antonio, Texas.
