This charming rendition of “El Pastor” was performed by participants of the one-week Summer Mariachi Extravaganza Vocal Camp held June 23-27, 2014 at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center in San Antonio under the direction of Edwin Origel Méndez and Steeven Sandoval of Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán. Camp students studied this and other songs, including Juan Gabriel’s “Buenos Días, Señor Sol,” inspired by Angélica Vargas’s self-titled CD that Muñoz Public Relations officially launched in Austin last June. You can see the video of that performance on the mariachimusicdotcom YouTube Channel.
Sixty students from throughout the United States gathered for this annual event held to celebrate the music of Mexico and help students improve their vocal technique and strengthen their overall mariachi performance. A public recital at the end of the camp gave students the opportunity to share what they had learned with friends and family.
Many talented participants traveled great distances to participate. As expected, students from throughout Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California attended the camp. To our great surprise, participants also came from as far away as Idaho, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Obviously, the passion for nuestra cultura is alive and well in areas well beyond the Southwestern part of the U.S.
Here are two of the many wonderful and inspiring comments we received from parents whose children attended the camp:
“We are so inspired and grateful to have participated in an exciting week of the Mariachi Vocal Camp back home in San Antonio. Thank you, Cynthia Muñoz, for making it a week to remember!! What a beautiful moment we shared with all of you in the spotlight of preserving our rich musical traditions.”
Belinda Arriaga
El Granada, California
“Thank you for all you do with the Mariachi Vocal Camp! It was an amazing and wonderful experience for the whole family. Yolotli and Yaretzi keep talking about their experience, and they keep tuning in to mariachi singing. We are very grateful and happy to have had our kids attend this wonderful event, and we hope to make it again next year. Yaretzi cannot wait!”
Yemina Vázquez González
Little Rock, Arkansas
Many thanks to MATT.org, the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, and the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza for supporting the camp.
We hope all camp participants will return to San Antonio for the 20th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza scheduled for November 20-22. Registration opens online at mariachimusic.com on September 1, 2014.
Students who have already attended the camp—as well as other interested, talented young musicians—can start making plans now for the 2015 Summer Mariachi Extravaganza Vocal Camp scheduled for June 15-19. Stay connected with mariachimusic.com for current information.
