This year’s Mariachi Extravaganza is seeing a record-breaking number of colleges and universities participating! It’s a clear sign of the growing popularity and impact of mariachi programs in higher education. This surge in participation will definitely make this year’s event even more exciting and competitive!
Florida State University and Harvard University are among nearly a dozen collegiate mariachi ensembles attending this year’s Mariachi Extravaganza along with colleges and universities from Texas. Florida State, led by Valley Texas native Alexis Andaverde, is a University well known for their music programs. It will be their first time attending the Mariachi Extravaganza in December. Harvard has attended in the past and returns this year under the leadership of Diamante Balcazar. We welcome these two schools along with all of the others who will be in San Antonio December 5-7.
Texas by far has the most colleges and universities with mariachi music programs than any other state in the U.S. Texas A&M International University in Laredo, The University of Houston, Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, Texas State University in San Marcos and Angelo State University in San Angelo will be among the 11 colleges and universities at the Extravaganza. In San Antonio alone, there are more mariachi music programs at local colleges and universities than ever before. Expect to see The University of Texas in San Antonio, the University of the Incarnate Word and Texas A&M University San Antonio at the event. It is a thrill to see college/university mariachi groups perform especially for middle school and high school students who are experiencing this for the very first time.
Since the start of the Mariachi Extravaganza in 1995, mariachi music has served as a platform to promote higher education and cultural preservation among Hispanic youth. So when college/university students perform, it has a profound influence on everyone. Students and families witness first hand amazing programs and start to visualize how they can continue in their passion for mariachi music while working towards a college degree.
There are more colleges and universities at this year’s Mariachi Extravaganza than ever before. More often than not, the event falls during the same time as final exams making it challenging for students to participate, but, that’s not holding folks back this year. This increase can be attributed to several factors. One reason is the shift that we’ve seen among mariachi directors at the collegiate level. Highly regarded mariachi musician and educator Cirilo Campos is now at the helm of Texas State University who struggled for several years to fill the shoes of longtime veteran John Lopez who is now at Palo Alto College. Campos is a graduate of Texas State and has officially been named Associate Professor and Director of Latin Music Studies. Campos will direct Mariachi Generacion which for many years went neck to neck in competitions with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). Selecting Campos as director of Mariachi Generacion is a huge win for Texas State as they now have the stability in leadership they need to rebuild the program.
Carlos Castaneda moved from Arizona to South Texas two years ago to take the leadership role as Mariachi Director at Texas A&M International University in Laredo. Prior to moving to Texas, Castaneda worked under Jeff Nevin at Southwestern Community College in San Diego, California and was Perry Chacon’s roommate at Arizona State University where earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s in orchestral and general music education and led the mariachi music program there and at South Mountain Community College. Castaneda brings his experience in performance, music education and touring to a region of Texas that will greatly benefit from his role as Lecturer of Music and Director of Mariachi Internacional at the University.
Another noteworthy move in mariachi at the collegiate level is with Alexis Andaverde. Alexis is from the Rio the Grande Valley and is working towards his Ph.D in Engineering at Florida State University. He has worked diligently to establish a mariachi music program which was recently sanctioned as an official student organization at the University. Andaverde’s persistence and commitment in establishing a mariachi music program at Florida State is a perfect example of how many mariachi music programs have started at the collegiate level. Thanks to his hard work in making this happen, Mariachi Osceola will be competing in this year’s Mariachi Extravaganza.
Another reason for the growth of Mariachi Music programs at the collegiate level may be due to an increasing number of opportunities that are present for collegiate groups. Like for example, UTRGV’s Mariachi Aztlán is currently touring with one of Mexico’s most popular female ranchera singers Aida Cuevas.
The opportunity to tour while studying has been invaluable for McAllen, Texas native and trumpet player Jesus Villegas. Jesus has spent the past two years on the road with Aida Cuevas while working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a Concentration in Mariachi. Aida Cuevas’ state-of-the-art productions, led by her son Rodrigo Cuevas, are renowned for their brilliant creativity and high quality production. This experience has provided Jesus with a deep appreciation and understanding of every aspect of touring including stage production, lighting, set design, and technology. Aida’s stellar vocal capabilities, well-thought-out repertoire, smooth arrangements, and decades of experience have helped transform Jesus into a professional musician, teaching him that hard work, dedication, and commitment can lead to success.
This past weekend, UTSA’s Mariachi Los Paisanos accompanied Nayelli Peña in a sold out concert at the Cave Without A Name in Boerne. People walked out of that event with a newfound appreciation for young artists and were impressed with the many voices featured during the performance. And this Saturday, the University of the Incarnate Word will perform in a show with Mariachi Azteca de America and Mariachi Mujer 2000. And, we can’t forget about the University of Houston’s Mariachi Pumas who performed this summer at the Houston Mariachi Festival to a sold out audience at the Wortham Center Brown Theater. It appears as if there are more options than ever before to enjoy mariachi music in nice venues more frequently and with college students that are empowered by youth, education, talent and the willingness to grow their performance experience.
This is a record breaking year in the number of colleges and universities participating in the Mariachi Extravaganza. We have never seen this number of collegiate groups and we super excited about the turn out so far. There’s still time to register so we may see even more groups participating. Not only do we get to see them in the group competitions, but we also get to enjoy them during the vocal competitions. UTRGV accompanies many of the semifinalists and the University of Houston’s Mariachi Pumas is also willing to lend an extra hand during the competition as well.
The Mariachi Extravaganza National Mariachi Group Competition – College/University Category – will take place Friday, December 6 at 8 PM CST. Wristbands are required to see this event and may be purchased at the door for $25. One wristband allows for entry into three full days of competitions held during the 30th Annual Mariachi Extravaganza December 5-7, 2004. Competition winners will open for the world renowned Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán in concert Saturday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m. Competitions and concert take place at the Lila Cockrell Theatre at 600 Market St., San Antonio, Texas. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com. A full schedule is available at mariachi music.com.
Recommended hotels for the 30th Annual Mariachi Extravaganza
Kimpton Santo Hotel – Brand new property with excellent rooms****
Located 10 minutes walking distance from the Lila Cockrell Theatre
431 S. Alamo, San Antonio, TX 78205
Room Rate: $199/4 students to a room
Contact 210-222-10000
Sonesta Hotel – Hotel offers complimentary breakfast and Small kitchen in rooms
425 Bonham, San Antonio, TX 78205
Room Rate: $199/4 students to a room
Contact Clarissa Gaona
210-212-5555 Ext. 4977
InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk – Brand new property on the Riverwalk with excellent rooms****Located about a mile from the Lila Cockrell Theatre
111 East Pecan St., San Antonio, TX 78205
Room Rate: $199/4 students to a room
Contact Lorena Pierce
726-238-4660 or 1-888-465-4329
Hotel is extending a 20% discount on valet and 50% discount on self-parking.
The Mariachi Extravaganza serves as the foremost stage for the best middle school, high school, and college/university mariachi groups and vocalists. The festival has garnered national attention through the Netflix documentary “Going Varsity in Mariachi,” and the New York Times Magazine feature, “A Championship Season in Mariachi Country.” Both have highlighted the competition’s intensity and dedication, spotlighting San Antonio and the cultural significance of the event.
The Mariachi Extravaganza is funded with support from sponsors including H-E-B, KHS America Academic Alliance, Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert, Raising Cane’s and the San Antonio Film Commission. The music festival is produced by San Antonio based MPR (Muñoz Public Relations).
