National Group Competition

• All participants must be registered for the conference.
• Registration fee is non-refundable and registration cannot be canceled after the late registration deadline of October 15, 2024.
• Student participants must be in good academic standing and be no more than 25 years old.
• Registrants are allowed entry into all events listed on the schedule of events, except the Mariachi Extravaganza Concert.
• A live drawing on the Mariachi Extravaganza Facebook page will  determine the order of competition. Vocal and songwriting competition drawing: November 1st. Group competition drawing: November 15th.

Rules by category:

• Grade levels will determine the category each group will compete in.
  • Middle School – 6th, 7th, 8th.
  • High School – 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th.
  • College / University – Must be enrolled in current academic year with at least 6 hours and be 27 years old or younger.
• The grade level of the oldest student in the group determines the category for the entire ensemble. For example, if a high school or middle school group has one member who is in college, then that group must compete at the college/university level.
• ALL college/university students MUST have a CURRENT STUDENT ID on hand with them the day of the competition.

Performance Rules:

• A minimum of 10 and a maximum of 16 musicians are required to compete in the group competition. The following instrumentation is recommended, but not required: Six violins, two trumpets, one vihuela, one guitar, one guitarrón, one harp (optional).
• ALL directors MUST submit their group’s performance set list on their registration forms. It is important that the judges have the correct names of the songs the group will perform.
• Each student on stage must play an instrument during the performance.
• Only students who are competing are allowed on stage during the competitions.
• Only in the Middle School category are directors allowed on stage prior to their group’s performance  to help set up microphones and must leave before the performance begins.
• High School and college/university directors are not allowed on stage during competitions or during the concert.
• If a high school or college/university group’s director walks on stage during the competition, that group will be DISQUALIFIED at the judges discretion.
• Competing groups must adhere to the following time limits:
  • Middle School: 3-5 minutes
  • High School: 5-7 minutes
  • College/University: 7-10 minutes
  • Time will begin after the first note is played regardless of wether or not that note is part of the performance. (Ex: Speaking “test” into the microphone, playing a note to check if the microphone is on, any word spoken into the microphone by a member of our group).
• Groups competing under or over the allotted time limits can be disqualified at the judges discretion.

Audio production rules:

• Microphones will be placed on stage in the same position as they are for a live concert (see diagram below).
• Armonia Section Microphones will be labeled
• Microphone stand height can be adjusted for performance.
• Any  wired microphones CANNOT be moved from its designated spot.
• Only wireless microphones can be moved around the stage.
• All groups will play using the sound levels set during Mariachi Aztlan’s sound check that same day.
• Sound technician can adjust levels accordingly during performance.
• Sound levels will be reset back to Mariachi Aztlan’s sound check levels at the end of every performance.
• No one is allowed in the sound booth except approved staff and audio technicians.
• Any one found in the sound booth affiliated to a competing group can jeopardize the group’s ability to compete and may put the group in risk of disqualification.

Group Competition Finals Rules:

• The top performing groups of the Middle School and High School categories will be selected and announced following the group competition. These top groups will compete in “Group Competition Finals” the following day.
• The order of performance for the finals will be determined in a blind drawing following the group competition.
• A new set of judges will be responsible of selecting the winners of the “Group Competition Finals”. This year judges will be members of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán.
• First, second and third place winners will be announced following the finals.
• The first place winners will get to perform in the Mariachi Extravaganza Concert that same night.

Disqualification Process:

Any group that breaks any of the rules listed above can be disqualified at the discretion of the judges and the event production team. Aside from the judges, there will be staff responsible to make sure each group is following competition rules. If your group is flagged with the possibility of disqualification the following steps will be taken by the production team of the Mariachi Extravaganza:

1. After your group’s performance you will return to practice rooms 004 or 005 where event staff will let you know if your group is clear or at risk of disqualification.
2. If your group was flagged at risk of disqualification you will be asked to meet with the production team at the time of the closest break in the competition or after the competition is over.
3. At this time, the production team will let you know the reason why your group was flagged for disqualification and you will be given the opportunity to justify the actions of the group.
4. Following this, the judges, Artistic Director and the Event Producer will decide if your group is disqualified.
5. This decision will be made prior to any selection of finalists or winners.
6. Once disqualified, your group can no longer advance to the competition finals or place as a winner.

Reporting a violation of the rules and regulations:

As a mariachi director, if at any point you believe another group has violated the rules and regulations of the competition, you can make a formal appeal to the event production team by following these steps:

1. Report to the event information table in the lobby of the theatre and request to speak to one of the event producers to report a violation of the rules and regulations.
2. You will then be given a time to meet with the event production team privately to present your case.
3. The event production team will then conduct an investigation prior to any results being announced.
4. After the investigation is over, you will be notified of the results of your report.

• Musicianship of each individual section (violins, trumpets, armonia, vocalists)
• Overall Presentation
• Style and Interpretation
• Stage Presence/Showmanship
• Intonation
• Appearance
• Clarity/Precision
• Volume/Dynamics

• Know your group’s strengths and weaknesses and select songs that feature its strong points. For example: if your group has an amazing trumpet section, consider songs that feature the trumpets; if your group has strong violins, consider a song that features that instrument; if your group has outstanding vocalists, think about highlighting those singers.
• A simple song played well is always preferable to a difficult song that the group has not yet mastered.
• All competing groups will be videotaped, so remember that group appearance is important.
• Mariachi directors may pick up performance critique sheets following the end of the mariachi group competition.
• Above all, have fun! This event creates lifetime memories for all!