Vocal Competition

During the initial entry, judges will be looking for the following:

• Pitch- the ability to sing in tune and the accuracy of intonation
• Enunciation/Diction- capability of pronouncing Spanish words correctly
• Clarity/Precision- the quality, sharpness and clearness of ones voice
• Volume- understanding how to control the voice based on the song selection
• Interpretation/Style- bring the song to life, know what the song is about and help the audience feel its meaning.
• Preparation- know the words to the song.

Appropriate casual attire is requested.

All entries will be reviewed and the list of selected finalists will be posted on mariachimusic.com by 10 AM on OCTOBER 16.

• Registration opens September 1^st
• Student participants must be in good academic standing and be 27 years old or younger.
• Submit an entry with one complete song under four (4:00) minutes in length. Popurrís or medleys are not permitted.
• Submissions must be recorded using a live or pre-recorded guitar or mariachi group accompaniment. Entries submitted with keyboards, synthesized instruments, computer-generated music, or other non-traditional mariachi accompaniment will be disqualified.
• PLEASE add the YouTube video URL to the line on the registration form that reads “Insert YouTube Video Link.” ONLY YouTube video submissions will be accepted
• Be sure to have all of your registration information, link to your video and payment method ready at the time of registration.
• The registration fee is $25 per vocalist. Registration fees are due at the time of registration unless paid for by the school. Vocal competition registration fees are non-refundable.
• The registration deadline is October 1st.
• All finalists must compete with the same song that they submitted for the audition.

• Plan, prepare and practice well in advance of recording your entry! Be sure you know the words to your song prior to videotaping. DO NOT READ THE LYRICS FROM YOUR CELL PHONE at the time of videotaping.
• Participants are strongly encouraged to select songs appropriate for their age and gender.
• Choose a selection you would consider to be one of your “signature songs.”
• Video submissions must be clear and close up. Below are a few examples on videos where the voice can be clearly heard and the face can be clearly seen:
  • Historia de un Amor
  • Otra Vez Me Enamore
  • Ay, Mi Jalisco
• Videotape yourself several times and submit your strongest entry.
• Make sure that while recording your video submission there are NO distracting noises in the background. It’s important that your voice is heard clearly on the recording. Help us make the preliminary judging easier by ensuring that your voice can clearly be heard over the music. When in doubt, share your video with several people that can help you determine whether or not your voice can clearly be heard.

Finalists will be required to resubmit a final video for the competition along with a headshot. The video replaces the live performance that would normally take place at the Lila Cockrell Theatre and the headshot will be used for marketing and promotion of the competition. In addition to adhering to the preliminary judging criteria, finalists will be also be judged on the following:

• Stage Presence & Showmanship- the ability to capture the attention of viewers through personality, charisma and charm.
• Attire- Full mariachi attire is required as for a live concert setting and/or television appearance.
• Stage Design – Consider overall appearance of your final video entry. Think about your background, setting and overall scenery so that your video is visually appealing to the viewers.

A live drawing will be held on the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza Facebook page to determine the order of competition for finalists. Please check the schedule of events for the date of drawing.