The 4th Annual Corpus Christi Mariachi Music Fest, which took place May 21, served as host to a concert featuring Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan and mariachi group and vocal competitions organized by Moody High Schools’ Band Director Elizabeth Ruiz. The concert included a competition between Del Mar College’s Mariachi Del Mar and Texas A&M’s Mariachi Javelina. Concert goers got the chance to vote for their favorite group and Mariachi Javelina won. Javelina will receive a scholarship to support their mariachi music program made possible by Sames Crow Ford Lincoln, State Farm Insurance and mariachimusic.com. Congratulations to both groups for a job well done!

Mariachi vocal competition winners Sebastian Vela (SV – Premont High School in Premont, Texas) and Sebastian De La Cruz (SDLC) also performed as opening acts. Both young men proved success in San Antonio during the 16th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza as first place vocal winners in their respective categories. This was reconfirmed on May 21 during the Corpus Christi Mariachi Music Fest with Sebastian Vela placing first and Sebastian De La Cruz placing second overall. SV sang Deja Que Salga la Luna and SDLC sang La Malagueña. Attached is a video of SV performing Granada in San Antonio last year in December. SV also made it as one of the top 10 finalists in Texas during auditions for American Idol in Austin last Summer. We wish him well as he plans to audition again this year.

Congratulations to Yajaira Tobias from Edinburg North High School in Edinburg, Texas who placed third in the mariachi vocal competition in Corpus. Keep up the good work and hope to see you in San Antonio in December!

The 5th Annual Corpus Christi Mariachi Music Fest is scheduled for Saturday, May 19, 2012. Mark your calendars now and continue reading mariachimusic.com blogs for more updates or call 210-225-3353.