Area middle and high schools to participate in Dia Del Mariachi to be held April 16 in Alice

 The 9th Annual Coastal Bend College Dia Del Mariachi™ Vocal and Group Competition, will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at Alice High School, located at 1 Coyote Trail in Alice, Texas. The competition’s best overall elementary, middle and high school vocalists, and the best overall groups from Elementary/Middle School Division I and II, High School Division I and II, and Composite Groups will be showcased on stage prior to an evening concert featuring Mariachi Campanas de America.

The mission of Dia Del Mariachi™ is to strive for Mariachi music excellence; develop young leaders with Hispanic cultural understanding; inspire a spirit of pride and unity in the people and communities of South Texas; and to introduce everyone to Coastal Bend College’s educational opportunities. The event is designed to provide students with college information, fellowship with other young musicians, experience with stage performing, and opportunities to listen to other groups. The competition winners get the once-in-a-lifetimes experience of opening for a professional Mariachi concert.

Mariachis from the following schools are scheduled to compete:

A.C. Jones High School, Beeville, under the direction of Jaime Vela

Miller High School, Corpus Christi, under the direction of Arturo Palomo

San Antonio Austin Academy, San Antonio, under the direction of Miguel Guzman

San Diego High School, San Diego, under the direction of John Vela

Premont Jr. High School, Premont, under the direction of Ernesto Cortez

Edinburg North High School, Edinburg, under the direction of Abel Acuna

Johnny G. Economedes High School, Edinburg, under the direction of Ignacio A. Lopez

Falfurrias High School, Falfurrias, under the direction of Roel Saenz

Hidalgo High School, Hidalgo, under the direction of Victor Galvan

Patrick Henry Middle School, Houston, under the direction of Jose Longoria

Houston High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston, under the direction of Jose R. Torres

H. M. King High School, Kingsville, under the direction of Rolando Molina

Laredo United High School, Laredo, under the direction of Jose Castro

Laredo Louis J. Christen Middle School, Laredo, under the direction of Ruben Guadian

Grulla Middle School, Grulla, under the direction of Jose Rangel

Rio Grande City Grulla High School, Rio Grande City, under the direction of Alfonso Rodriguez

Laredo Martin High School, Laredo, under the direction of Ralph Alarcon

Laredo United South High School, Laredo, under the direction of Robert Ortiz

Mathis High School, Mathis, under the direction of Charles Cabrera

Veteran’s Memorial High School, Mission, under the direction of Francisco Vela, Jr.

Rio Grande Fort Ringgold Middle School, Rio Grande City, under the direction of Diana Degollado

Rio Grande City High School, Rio Grande City, under the direction of Alex Rodriguez

Rio Grande City Veterans Middle School, Rio Grande City, under the direction of Eloy Garza

Somerset High School, Somerset, under the direction of Adrian Lopez

Somerset Jr. High School, Somerset, under the direction of Ezekiel Jac Hernandez

Savannah Heights Middle School, Von Ormy, under the direction of Rene Gutierrez

Zapata High School, Zapata, under the direction of Adrian Padilla

McAllen Memorial High School, McAllen, under the direction of Priscilla Sosa

Laredo McDonell Elementary, Laredo, under the direction of Luz Beatrice Escudero

This year, Coastal Bend College will attempt to break the Guinness World Record™ for the world’s largest Mariachi ensemble. The attempt is open to all Mariachi musicians – student or professional — with the following stipulations: (1) participants must proficiently play an instrument, preferably a violin, trumpet, Spanish guitar, Vihuela or Guitarrón; and (2) participants must be in full Mariachi attire including sombrero.  Musicians at all levels are invited to participate.

 For more information about Dia Del Mariachi or the Guinness World Record™ attempt, log on to http://www.coastalbend.edu/diadelmariachi or contact Juan Jose Sanchez at (361) 664-2981 Ext. 3042 or by e-mail: alice2@coastalbend.edu.

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