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.

This year several Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza participants auditioned for America’s Got Talent with traditional mariachi music. What made these auditions different was that it was traditional mariachi music on mainstream American television. America’s Got Talent is the most popular TV reality show of the summer on a major television Network – NBC. First place winners of San Antonio’s 17th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza Elementary/Middle School Group Competition – Veteran’s Middle School Mariachi, from Rio Grande City, TX – made it to the audition in Austin earlier this year. Sebastien De La Cruz, first place winner of the Elementary/Middle School Vocal Competition also auditioned as well as Austin’s very own Mariachi Relampago, who performs under the direction of Adolph Ortiz.

If any of these acts make it on to America’s Got Talent it will be the first time in the history of mainstream American TV talent competitions that an act performs traditional mariachi music on English television. This is a huge feat. If this happens for any of these artist it will be an amazing accomplishment for all in the mariachi music industry. We wish all of the groups and vocalists all the luck in the world as the new season of America’s Got Talent starts this week.