Last week, we announced the 40 incredible vocal finalists who were selected to compete in the highly anticipated inaugural Mariachi Extravaganza Las Vegas Vocal Competition! Students from 20 cities, 7 states, and even Canada, will be heading to Las Vegas this March, ready to prove they have the most captivating mariachi voice in the nation. While some of these talented competitors may be stepping on a stage for the first time in their careers, many are no strangers to the spotlight—having won awards, performed in sold-out venues, and even appeared on national TV! Get ready for an inside look at the Mariachi Extravaganza Vocal Competition and the exceptional singers who will take the stage at the University of Nevada Performing Arts Center – Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on March 8.
The Mariachi Extravaganza Vocal Competition
Two years after the Mariachi Extravaganza was founded in San Antonio, the festival kicked off its first vocal competition in 1997 and it’s been a thrilling showdown of musical talent ever since. Today, it’s widely regarded as the most prestigious and competitive mariachi vocal competition in the nation! For 30 consecutive years, the festival has been hosted in San Antonio, Texas, but in 2025, Las Vegas will get a taste of what this music festival is all about. The Mariachi Extravaganza Las Vegas adds a dazzling new dimension to the Extravaganza competitions and celebration of Mexican cultural arts. Competitors will have 4 minutes to pour their heart and soul into a song of their choice and impress a distinguished panel of judges. The winners will walk away with accolades, scholarships, and the incredible opportunity to open the Mariachi Extravaganza Concert, headlined by the legendary Jonathan Palomar, former member of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán. But there’s more—first-place winners from each category will also earn an automatic entry into the 31st Annual Mariachi Extravaganza Vocal Competition semifinals in San Antonio! Click here for a full list of competition finalists.
The Talent
Let’s dive into the incredible talent that will be competing! In the Elementary School Category, we have Bryan Malanche (10) from Sandy, Utah— a first-time competitor but no stranger to the stage. He’s already a seasoned performer at public events in his hometown and has even competed in contests like Access Broadway Nationals. From Bakersfield, California, we have 8-year-old Alessandra Gutierrez, one of the youngest stars in this year’s competition. Don’t let her age fool you—Alessandra is a force to be reckoned with! In 2024, she triumphed at the Houston Mariachi Festival Vocal Competition, performing in front of a crowd of over 2,000 people. Lastly, we have to mention Emiliano Rosales Meza (10), who is traveling 2,200 miles all the way from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, to impress the judges with his talent.
Three out of the five finalists in the Middle School Category have previously competed in the Mariachi Extravaganza. Last year, Carla Beltran (13) made her debut as a semi-finalist in San Antonio. Carla is a local Las Vegas student and performs with K.O. Knudson’s Middle School Mariachi Los Pumas, who were crowned national champions in 2024 in the National Group Competition, making history as the first Las Vegas mariachi group to win first place in the middle school category. Brandon Malanche (12) will make his 3rd consecutive appearance in the Mariachi Extravaganza. At his debut performance in 2023, Malanche placed 2nd in his category. Last year, he advanced to the finals, and made it to the list of the top 5 middle school vocalists in the nation. Lastly, we have the 2024 middle school category defending champion Cristaly Leal (12). Currently the top middle school vocalist in the nation, the Zapata, Texas native made her first appearance in the competition back in 2023, where she placed 3rd right under Brandon. Last year, she came back stronger than ever and blew away the judges with a performance that brought home the gold.
Now, let’s talk about the High School Category. This is the largest and most competitive category of them all with 20 finalists vying for the top spot! Local talent is represented by Elizabeth Hernandez (15) from Del Sol Academy of the Performing Arts. Elizabeth won 1st place in the middle school category in 2023 with her powerful rendition of El Jaripeo. She’s also a member of Mariachi Encendido, finalists in the 2024 National Group Competition, and one of the best mariachi groups in the nation! Joining her is Carolina Reyes (15), Genesis Jimenez (14), and Betsy Garcia (15), all debuting in the vocal competition after making their mark in the Group Competition Finals with Mariachi Joya from Las Vegas High School, one of the top groups nationwide. Francisco Iniguez-Hinojosa (15), from Desert Pines High School, is making his return after competing in the middle school category in 2022. He is now in high school and will have his debut in this category.
More than half of the students in the high school category will be traveling from out of state to compete on March 8th. Nicole Lillingston (18) will travel from Pacoima, California, to make her 2nd appearance in the Mariachi Extravaganza. Her interpretation of A Los Cuatro Vientos earned her a spot in the finals in 2023. Now a high school senior, this will be her last chance for a shot at the podium in this category. Someone to keep an eye on is Reina Ley (16). Although this will be her first time competing in the Mariachi Extravaganza, this San Tan Valley, Arizona high school junior has plenty of experience in the spotlight. Back in 2022, Reina made it to NBC’s The Voice Blind Auditions, where both Camila Cabello and Gwen Stefani were moved by her interpretation of Cielito Lindo and debated each other to get her on their team. Last year, she was one of the winners of the Houston Mariachi Festival vocal competition and was awarded a performance in a sold-out show at the Wortham Theatre Center.
We can conclude the high school category with Texas, which brought in 9 of the 20 finalists. The following competitors were all semi-finalists in last year’s vocal competition: Zayden Longoria (17) from Houston, Michelle Meraz (18) from Rio Grande City, Yaritsel Salinas (16), and Leylanie Rodriguez (16), both from La Grulla. Coming from a family of mariachi musicians, Longoria has been singing most of his life and even performed in the Houston Mariachi Festival last year. Salinas makes her 3rd consecutive appearance in the competition having won 3rd place in 2023 and making it to the semifinals last year. Rodriguez is the current defending champion of the high school category. She took home the gold in 2024, competing for the first time, which also happened to be her birthday. Everyone in the venue sang happy birthday to her as she received her medal. Lastly, there is Michelle Meraz. She is perhaps the competitor with the most appearances at the Mariachi Extravaganza. Michelle has competed in the Vocal Competition 5 times and placed 2nd last year during the finals. This will be her last chance to bring home the gold in the high school category.
Lastly, we have the Collegiate Category where an impressive group of 10 students from 10 different colleges and universities will battle it out for first place. These vocalists have honed their craft and perfected their performance styles, making this category one to watch. Gabriela Cruz from Texas Christian University is a three time finalist and ranked among the top collegiate vocalists in 2024. Jenika Montes from UTRGV is a seasoned Mariachi Extravaganza competitor with multiple podium finishes and a wealth of stage experience. Montes place 2nd in the college/university category in 2021 and 3rd as a high schooler in 2020. She might be the one to beat in the category. Irving Chavez from UNLV, representing the host school, is making his debut as a vocal finalist and is sure to shine with his experience performing with the school’s Mariachi Revolución on his hone turf. Wrapping up the category is Felicia Soto from Palo Alto College in San Antonio making her debut as a vocal finalists after years of competing in the group competition.
As we approach the Mariachi Extravaganza Las Vegas Vocal Competition, the stage is set for an unforgettable showdown of talent, passion, and artistry. These exceptional vocalists, from all corners of the country and beyond, are ready to bring their A-game and prove they have what it takes to be crowned the best in the nation. Whether it’s their first time stepping onto the stage or they’re seasoned competitors chasing the gold, one thing is certain—this is a competition like no other. The energy, the emotion, and the pure magic of mariachi will fill the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on March 8, and we can’t wait to see who will rise to the top!
This is more than just a contest—it’s a demonstration of culture, tradition and mariachi music performance excellence. So, get ready to cheer on these talented singers as they make their mark in history. The inaugural Mariachi Extravaganza Las Vegas is about to kick off and it’s going to be an experience you won’t want to miss!
Event Information
Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025
Location: UNLV Performing Arts Center, Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, Las Vegas, Nevada
Mariachi Group and Vocal Competitions: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Click here for competition Tickets
Mariachi Extravaganza Concert: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Click here for concert Tickets
Tickets for both the competitions and concert can be purchased at UNLV.EDU/PAC or at the box office at the UNLV Performing Arts Center.
For more information:
UNLV Performing Arts Center Box Office – 702-895-2787
Stephen Blanco – Stephen.blanco@unlv.edu – 702-799-0180 ext. 4041
Leon Camacho – Leon@mariachimusic.com – 210-629-2820
Cynthia Muñoz – Cynthia@mariachimusic.com – 210-225-3353
This event is made possible with the support of the UNLV School of Music and KHS America Academic Alliance.