The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Minerals Center of Excellence and Expertise will host a webinar on Thursday, September 14 at 10 am CST in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month. The webinar titled “Mariachi Extravaganza: Keeping old Traditions Alive” will feature Cynthia Munoz, Producer of the 29th Annual Mariachi Extravaganza.
The webinar will begin with an official observance of Hispanic Heritage Month which starts September 15th and runs through October 15th . Muñoz will then discuss her role as the producer of the Mariachi Extravaganza, how she got involved in mariachi music, what mariachi music means to her, and how the competitions were created. She will also discuss how the Mariachi Extravaganza has supported continuous growth for young Hispanic artists.
Cynthia Muñoz is the producer of the most important mariachi music festival in the world for competitive mariachi. The Mariachi Extravaganza was founded in 1995, and over the course of nearly three decades, Muñoz has grown it into a worldwide event known for fiercely competitive mariachi group and vocal competitions and an original songwriting competition. The competitions celebrate Hispanic culture and traditions while keeping a centuries-old tradition alive. The Mariachi Extravaganza showcases Hispanic youth performances at the highest level, and promotes cultural preservation and pride. Extravaganza participants were featured in a 15-page article in the New York Times Magazine on November 6, 2022. The article, “A Championship Season in Mariachi Country,” was written by Cecilia Balli who followed award-winning high school mariachi groups along the Texas border in their quest for the Mariachi Extravaganza National Champion title.
Now in its 29th year, the Mariachi Extravaganza presents esteemed artists from Mexico, alongside national champion winners, sharing an evening of great performances that showcase the highest standard of excellence.
The webinar will include an audience of employees of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency and other employees and port personnel who are part of the U.S. Customs all over the country. Our extended mariachi community is also invited to attend.
Information on the 29th Annual Mariachi Extravaganza is available at mariachimusic.com.
Tickets for the Mariachi Extravaganza concert on Saturday, December 2 can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.
