I’ve taken a sabbatical from posting blogs but only because my team and I have been busy planning out the 2009 Mariachi Vargas Concert Tour schedule which kicks off in Corpus Christi Saturday, March 7 at the Selena Auditorium. Don’t wait until the last minute to purchase your tickets (ticketmaster.com). Last year people were standing at the box office at 5:00 p.m. hoping to buy tickets the day of the concert and they were all sold out! It’s going to be another spectacular show with excellent performers, the world renowned Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán and a surprise MC!
The Corpus Christi Mariachi Vargas concert is part of a 3-day Coastal Bend Mariachi Festival which starts on Thursday, March 5 with school presentations. Best in the U.S. vocal winner (2007) Esteban Velasquez will perform for students throughout the Coastal Bend area and share his experiences from his appearance on the international TV show La Academia on Azteca America. Esteban as well as Selena Elizondo, 2008 Best in the U.S. vocal winner, will both participate as opening artist during the Mariachi Vargas concert. Mariachi Aztlán of the University of Texas Pan American (UTPA) will accompany the vocalist and perform a set as well. Winners of student group and vocal competitions spearheaded by J.J. Sanchez and Coastal Bend College’s Dia del Mariachi will be invited to perform.
Be sure to tune into the Mariachi Por Vida! podcast on Saturday, March 7 at 2 p.m. for a live podcast with Mariachi Vargas’ musical director Jose “Pepe”Martinez, Sr. who will be interviewed by Frank DeLeon from the San Marcos Mariachi Academy. Thanks to Frank and his brother Mike, they are making strides in documenting the mariachi music culture via podcasting.
Hope to see you in Corpus but if not, make note that Mariachi Vargas will be in the Rio Grande Valley for a performance at the UTPA on Saturday, March 28 as part of FESTIBA – The Festival of International Books and Arts. More mariachi group and vocal competitions will be held as well as wonderful panel discussions with mariachi historians and members of Mariachi Vargas.
Hope everyone is doing well and feel free to email me at Cynthia@mariachimusic.com to let me know what’s happening in your world. Be sure to visit www.mariachimusic.com where videos from the 2008 Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza have recently been posted. Thanks, Cynthia.
More information on Mariachi Vargas in Corpus Christi
See Esteban Velasquez
See Selena Elizondo
See Mariachi Vargas
Great Blog.