A whole bunch of younger singers from 5 completely different states have descended on San Antonio, Texas, for the Mariachi Extravaganza, the most important Mariachi music competitors within the nation.
ELISSA NADWORNY, HOST:
On the streets of downtown San Antonio this weekend, hundreds of younger musicians and the sounds of mariachi music.
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NADWORNY: It is referred to as the Mariachi Extravaganza, and it is the most important aggressive mariachi occasion within the nation. Texas Public Radio’s Jack Morgan takes us there.
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JACK MORGAN, BYLINE: Scores of younger folks – center college by way of school age – stream by way of the doorways of the Lila Cockrell Theatre on the banks of San Antonio’s famed tree-lined River Stroll. They’ve all turned up this cool morning to listen to one of many style’s hottest bands, Mariachi Vargas.
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MARIACHI VARGAS: (Singing in Spanish).
MERARI URIBE: It is the most important occasion for anyone who is aware of something about mariachi.
MORGAN: Seventeen-year-old violinist and singer Merari Uribe is right here for the extravaganza. The doubles is a three-day workshop. Uribe has been enjoying mariachi since she was 10.
URIBE: In center college, as quickly as they provided that program, I joined, and it ready me for highschool.
MORGAN: Mariachi started in Mexico, nevertheless it has taken deep roots within the American Southwest. In lots of of Texas faculties, mariachi is obtainable as a music program, similar to band or orchestra. And all of it begins with studying music.
URIBE: The primary 12 months is simply sort of like, OK, that is the way you play. That is the way you learn the notes. After which the second and the third 12 months are once they’re attempting to show you and incorporate that mariachi type.
MORGAN: And right here on the extravaganza, reside efficiency is essential. However the a number of workshops are a serious draw as properly. Mariachi Vargas gamers this morning are workshopping with college students, together with Uribe.
URIBE: Mariachi Vargas, to the mariachi world, is like Taylor Swift for this new technology.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Ah, one, two, prepared, and…
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UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: One, two, one, and…
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UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Sure. So good.
MORGAN: Aspiring mariachis from 5 completely different states are right here, and it is not simply the West.
DIAMANTE BALCAZAR: Hello, my identify is Diamante Balcazar, and I am a senior at Harvard College learning neuroscience and social anthropology, and I am the president of Mariachi Veritas.
MORGAN: That is the Harvard College-based mariachi band.
BALCAZAR: We’re one of many solely mariachis in Boston, and we have been basically the first-ever pupil mariachi on the East Coast.
MORGAN: Like many of those college students, Balcazar says mariachi is a method to join together with his roots and his ancestors.
BALCAZAR: Rising up, I simply keep in mind numerous instances mariachi being performed whereas my grandma was cooking, listening to it at completely different household occasions.
MORGAN: The younger musicians will all compete at this time for 19 separate awards and scholarship cash. And whoever is topped grand champion will get to carry out tonight with the Mariachi Vargas.
For NPR Information, I am Jack Morgan, in San Antonio.
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UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL GROUP: (Singing in Spanish).
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