Singers, start getting your vocal cords in top shape, because the 27^th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza is happening LIVE and in-person on Saturday, December 4^th in San Antonio! You read that correctly, we are back face-to-face for the MVE National Vocal Competition this year and cannot wait to see what kind of talent this year’s vocal auditions brings in. Students starting at the elementary level all the way up to college/university (up to 27 years of age) are invited to fill out their applications at mariachimusic.com and submit their audition videos starting Wednesday, September 1^st. All materials must be turned in by Friday, October 1, 2021.

Here are the important dates that vocalists interested in auditioning need to know for the MVE National Vocal Competition:

For a full schedule of events to the 27^th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza, click here. Also, rest assured that the MVE is looking at all the health and safety protocols needed to ensure all participants are safe at this year’s event. 

It’s never too early to start searching for the perfect competition song that is well-suited not only for your voice, but also for your personality. Your song should be an extension of you and help to connect you to your audience and the judges through the story you are interpreting. For more tips, check out “The Three P’s for a Great Audition” that we shared last year during the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza. 

The Three P’s for a Great Audition

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 nor 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. 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.

If you are interested in participating in the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza and have any questions, please contact Debra Torres at debra@mariachimusic.com.

And remember, tickets to see Mariachi Vargas live in concert, along with National vocal and group competition winners, go on on sale as early as July 26. You must be a subscriber to the mariachimusic.com newsletter to get the password to purchase your tickets on July 26 through Ticketmaster.com.

Stay safe!