Brownsville's Premiere Mariachi Festival Has Arrived!
Texas Southmost College is proud to announce our inaugural Mariachi Festival, with the aim of celebrating Mexican culture, promoting community engagement, and fostering the understanding of cultural diversity within our college and surrounding communities.
Our festival will take place on April 19 & 20, 2024 at the historic Texas Southmost College campus and will provide educational opportunities, showcase local talent, promote mariachi education, and create memorable and entertaining experiences for all attendees.
Event Schedule – April 19 – 20
Headlining Performers and Clinicians
Mariachi Sol de México de Jóse Hernández are masters of mariachi music. Internationally recognized musicians, composers and educators, they continue to break boundaries in the world of mariachi.
It is our honor and priveledge to host Mariachi Sol De México de Jóse Hernández as our headlining performers for our community concert and our clinicans to our Mariachi Festival students.
Local Expert Musicians and Clinicians
Professor Avigái González
Texas Southmost College Mariachi Director
Karina Vela
Mariachi Margaritas
Mariachi Escorpión
Texas Southmost College
Mariachi Aztlán
UTRGV
Get Registered for the Workshop and Competitions
Our 2-day festival is open to all middle school and high school music students across the state of Texas, and our Saturday evening concert is open to the public.
Attend Any of the Public Events
Purchase tickets to the Grand Concert featuring Mariachi sol de México de José Hernández or the competitions featuring participating students.
Saturday Evening Grand Concert
Attend the Vocal Competition
Attend the Mariachi Competition
Rules and Regulations of Competition
Vocal Competition
- Online vocal submissions are due March 19th. Audition videos should be uploaded to YouTube. Send link to [email protected]. (For questions, call Avigai Gonzalez at 956-685-0263).
- A panel of distinguished mariachi musicians will review the videos.
- Finalists will be announced on March 29th. The finalists will be presented at the Vocal Competition Finals Concert.
- Enrollment Fee: $20 per student competing in vocal competition.
- If the Vocal Contestant wishes to attend the workshops, the $45.00 registration fee applies.
Mariachi Group Competition
- Groups may enter the following categories: High School Varsity (Classifications: 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A or 2A/1A), High School Junior Varsity 6A 1A, or Middle School. If there are not 2 or more groups in a single category, the groups will be moved to the next category. Each category awards 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. A Grand Champion from the High School 1A – 6A categories will be selected to play at the concert. Winners of the Vocal Competition and Middle School Competition will also perform at the concert.
- High School Groups are allowed to play from 8 to 10 minutes. Middle School Groups are allowed to play from 6 to 8 minutes. Groups exceeding the time limit established for the competition will not be disqualified, but will have points deducted.
- The clock starts with the first note played. Directors, please refrain from excessive preparation time on stage.
- The stage plot will be the same for all groups (we will post the stage plot). To ensure the same sound quality for everyone, please do not move any microphones except the cordless mics.
- All performing group members must be registered for the TSC 2024 Mariachi Festival.
- Students may compete with only one mariachi ensemble and must be registered under one school.
- If your school has only one mariachi, the group must compete at the Varsity level.
- Students may compete with only one mariachi ensemble.
- Please be ready at least thirty minutes before the scheduled competition time.