Congratulations to the talented vocalists selected to compete in the 32nd Annual Mariachi Extravaganza National Vocal Competition Semifinals!
More than 200 entries were received from across the country, with just 44 outstanding vocalists selected to advance to the semifinals in four categories: elementary school, middle school, high school, and college/university.These talented young artists will take the stage on Thursday, December 3, 2026, at the Lila Cockrell Theatre in San Antonio, Texas, competing for the opportunity to advance to the National Vocal Competition Finals.
National Vocal Competition Semifinals Schedule
Thursday, December 3, 2026 – Lila Cockrell Theatre | San Antonio, Texas
3:00 PM – Doors Open4:00 PM – Official Mariachi Extravaganza Kick-Off4:30–9:00 PM – National Vocal Competition Semifinals9:30 PM – Announcement of Finalists
The public is invited to attend and cheer on these talented young vocalists! Enjoy an exciting evening of live mariachi music featuring outstanding student performers accompanied by numerous mariachi ensembles.
| National Vocal Semifinals – Thursday., December 3, 2026 | |||||
| TIME | SEMIFINALISTS | SCHOOL | CITY/STATE | ||
| ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CATEGORY | |||||
| 4:30 PM | Mateo | Soto | The Book Hooks Schoolhouse | Houston | TX |
| 4:35 PM | Adrian | Rangel | Victory Elementary | Adkins | TX |
| 4:40 PM | Alessandra Karina | Gutierrez | Voorhies Elementary School | Bakersfield | CA |
| 4:45 AM | Nina | Cantu | Dr. Antonio Bañuelos Elementary | Baytown | TX |
| MIDDLE SCHOOL CATEGORY | |||||
| 5:00 PM | Marianna | Rowan | Morales Junior High School | Uvalde | TX |
| 5:05 PM | Lexaeus | Lazo | Robert C. Zamora Middle School | Von Ormy | TX |
| 5:10 PM | Mariely | Lopez | Veterans Middle School | Rio Grande City | TX |
| 5:15 PM | Kenya | Garza | Somerset Jr. High | Von Ormy | TX |
| 5:20 PM | Joshua | Gámez-Cuéllar | Travis Middle School | McAllen | TX |
| 5:25 PM | Jaime | Medrano Rodriguez | Roma Middle School | Roma | TX |
| 5:30 PM | Matteo | Alvarez | Anthony Aguirre Junior High | Houston | TX |
| 5:35 PM | Mateo | Puente | IDEA Lake Houston | Houston | TX |
| 5:40 PM | Chloe | Garcia | Advanced Learning Academy | San Antonio | TX |
| 5:45 PM | Alexia | Orta | Drew Academy | Houston | TX |
| HIGH SCHOOL CATEGORY | |||||
| 6:10 PM | Cristaly | Leal | Zapata High School | Zapata | TX |
| 6:15 PM | Eva Carolina | Nava | Sharyland High School | Mission | TX |
| 6:20 PM | Kamil Alexis | Villa-Sansores | Da Vinci School for Science and the Arts | El Paso | TX |
| 6:25 PM | Belen | Gonzalez | Fox Tech High School | San Antonio | TX |
| 6:30 PM | Aliah | Maldonado | La Joya High School | La Joya | TX |
| 6:35 PM | Isabel | Garza-Johnson | McAllen High School | McAllen | TX |
| 6:40 PM | Matteo | Lopez | IDEA Pharr | Pharr | TX |
| 6:45 PM | Valeria | Rodriguez | La Joya High School | La Joya | TX |
| 6:50 PM | Annette | Banda | Dr. Leo G. Cigarroa High School | Laredo | TX |
| 6:55 PM | Paola | Vasquez | La Joya High School | La Joya | TX |
| 7:00 PM | Leann | Vela | James Nikki Rowe High School | McAllen | TX |
| 7:05 PM | A’brielle | Henderson | Harlingen High School | Harlingen | TX |
| 7:10 PM | Johnathan | Villalta | Fox Tech High School | San Antonio | TX |
| 7:15 PM | Yessenia | Cruz | Rio Grande City High School | Rio Grande City | TX |
| 7:20 PM | Yareli | Cano | McAllen High School | McAllen | TX |
| 7:25 PM | Lexia | Esquivel | La Joya High School | La Joya | TX |
| COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY CATEGORY | |||||
| 7:55 PM | Leylanie | Rodriguez | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg | TX |
| 8:00 PM | Alexis | Perez | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg | TX |
| 8:05 PM | Daniela | Lopez | University of Texas at San Antonio | San Antonio | TX |
| 8:10 PM | Marijose | Ramirez-Flores | University of Texas at San Antonio | San Antonio | TX |
| 8:15 PM | Isabella Karol | Gonzalez | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg | TX |
| 8:20 PM | Greko | Bazana Enrique | University of Texas at San Antonio | San Antonio | TX |
| 8:25 PM | Michelle Aurora | Meraz | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg | TX |
| 8:30 PM | Natalia | Torres | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg | TX |
| 8:35 PM | Victoria | Gonzalez | Texas A&M University – Kingsville | Kingsville | TX |
| 8:40 PM | Abraham | Loera | San Antonio College | San Antonio | TX |
| 8:45 PM | Ximena | Garcia | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg | TX |
| 8:50 PM | Merari | Uribe | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg | TX |
| 8:55 PM | Sofia | Gonzalez | Texas State University | San Marcos | TX |
| 9:00 PM | Gideon | Perkins | Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | Corpus Christi | TX |
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who submitted an entry! The level of mariachi vocal talent across the country continues to grow, making the selection process increasingly competitive. Each year, narrowing the field to just 44 semifinalists becomes more challenging as students continue to elevate their musical abilities and performances.
We applaud every student who submitted an entry, regardless of whether they advanced to the semifinals. Your dedication, hard work, and passion for mariachi music are worthy of recognition.
All students who submitted an entry are eligible to participate in instrumental and vocal workshops on Friday, December 4, and attend competitions taking place throughout the December 3–5 Mariachi Extravaganza.
A special thank you to the parents and mariachi directors whose countless hours of encouragement, instruction, and preparation help students reach their highest potential. Your commitment plays an essential role in developing the next generation of outstanding mariachi musicians and vocalists.
We also extend our sincere appreciation to our presenting sponsors, H-E-B and KHS America Alianza Académica, for their generous support and commitment to mariachi music education and cultural preservation.
We look forward to welcoming everyone to San Antonio for three unforgettable days celebrating the very best in mariachi music!
Tickets may be purchased at the Lila Cockrell Theatre beginning at 3:00 PM on Thursday, December 3. One wristband is $30 at the door and is good for 3 full days of competitions!
Questions regarding the National Vocal Competition?
Contact Sandra Guevara at 210-414-8409.
For additional event information and updates, visit MariachiMusic.com.
