The Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza National Vocal Competition is going online this year and the deadline to participate is Thursday, October 1, 2020!!!! Don’t miss the opportunity to participate in the largest, longest running and most competitive mariachi vocal competition in the U.S. Best of all, you can participate from the comfort of your own home while staying safe until we overcome this COVID crisis.
Below are the rules and regulations on how to submit your entry.
The online registration to participate in the vocal competition opened on mariachimusic.com on Sept. 1. Students interested in submitting an audition have until 11:59 PM CST on Thursday, October 1 to register and submit a link to their YouTube video.
Here are the requirements to participate:
- Participants must REGISTER for the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza National Vocal Competition by completing the online registration form.
- Students must be in good academic standing and be 27 years old or younger.
- Audition songs must be under four (4:00) minutes in length.
- Popurrís or medleys are not permitted.
- Submissions must be recorded using a live or pre-recorded guitar or mariachi group accompaniment (pista or musicbed). Entries submitted with keyboards, synthesized instruments, computer generated music or other non-traditional mariachi accompaniment will be disqualified.
- Visit mariachimusic.com for a full overview of the vocal competition rules and regulations.
The fee register to register is $25 per student. The proceeds generated from the vocal competition registrations go towards grants that will be awarded to the Grand Champion and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners of the elementary, middle School, high school and college/university categories.
The vocal finalists will be posted to mariachimusic.com at 10:00 AM on Friday, October 16. All finalist will be required to re-record a video performance of their competition song and turn in the file via GoogleDrive to debra@mariachimusic.com by November 6th. Competitors must also provide a headshot of themselves on this date. This final video recording will replace the live performance that would have normally taken place at the Lila Cockrell Theatre. Finalists will be required to dress in your mariachi/performance attire as if you were going to be on stage in front of a live audience. This footage will go on to be streamed as the MVE National Vocal Competition online (exact streaming website will be released at a later date).
Members of “el mejor mariachi del mundo”, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, will go on to critique and judge all of the vocal finalists performances during the live stream and announce the winners of the 26th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza National Vocal Competition.
Who can participate in the National Vocal Competition?
Vocalists from elementary to college/university levels (up to 27 years of age) can participate in the vocal competition.
Here are some helpful Video Audition Tips:
Prepare, Practice and Plan
PREPARE: Take time to find a song you connect with and something suited for your voice and performance style. Make sure that you fully understand the meaning of your song selection and that it is appropriate for your age. Remember, the hardest song does not always win the competition. While many competitors like to push themselves, always be sure to play around with your songs key signature in order to find a vocal range that is suitable for your voice and is neither too low or too high for you. Vocalist often submit entries where they are singing in the wrong key.
PRACTICE: The Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza is commonly known as the toughest and most competitive mariachi vocal competition in the U.S. It is important that all competitors take the time to work on their intonation, musical timing, word pronunciation and interpretation. Be sure to memorize the lyrics to your song prior to recording. Mariachi Vargas members will judge the preliminary round this year. It’s easy to tell when contestants are reading words off of the music stands or cell phones and it does not look favorable. Judges want to be certain you know the words to the song at the time of submission.
PLAN: The voice is a delicate instrument and taking care of it is key. On the day that you plan to record your submission, make sure that you are in the best vocal health possible by planning on getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated. Take time to do vocal warmups and try to record several takes of your song in order to select the best submission option possible.
Video Recording Tips
1. Record your video in an isolated place where there are no distractions or noise that will take away from your performance. Be wary of barking dogs, loud televisions, people talking or cars and sirens driving by. Contestants should be clearly audible.
2. Videos should be shot in a horizontal landscape style in a well-lit area so that contestants obtain a well-focused closeup shot of themselves.
3. Do a trial video with your musical accompaniment and look for the perfect balance between your music and voice so that your voice isn’t overpowered and drowned out by the music. Preliminary judges want to be able to clearly hear you throughout your recording.
4. The camera is your audience. Perform and express yourself while interpreting your selection so that the judges feel your emotions.
5. Above all have fun while recording!! Mariachi music is one of the most beautiful musical styles and such a joy to perform. Enjoy yourself and know that you are going to do the best job possible.
Click HERE to register and submit your audition video for the 26th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza National Vocal Competition.
Important Dates and Deadlines
September 1 – Vocal Registration Opens
October 1 – Vocal Registration Deadline
October 16 – Vocal Finalists posted on mariachimusic.com
November 6 – Deadline to submit Vocal Finalists Videos & Headshots
Week of Dec. 1 – MVE26 National Vocal Competition (Exact date, time and location of the live stream will be announced).
Please continue to practice social distancing and follow the rules and regulations outlined by your state, city and schools. Stay safe and do your part in helping to keep the number of coronavirus cases down so that we can get through this pandemic safely. And, most importantly, as you all know, we have an important election soon approaching. For those of you 18 and older, please make sure you are registered to vote!!!! This next election will be one of the most important elections in our lifetime and it’s important that we use our power to vote and let our voices be heard!!!!
We at MPR would like to wish everyone the best but most of all we wish everyone good health and safety during todays current world climate. Please continue to stay safe by exercising the necessary COVID-19 precautions and helping to better the situation. We continue to hope for speedy recoveries and send well wishes to all of those who have been affected by the virus. Everyone is in our thoughts and we can’t wait until the day when we can all gather again to enjoy the beautiful mariachi music that helps us stay connected to each other.
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