Five McAllen High School student vocalists, the most from any school, have qualified for a national mariachi vocals competition.
They will compete in the 26th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza National Vocal Competition December 4-5. It will be an online event this year.
The Extravaganza is the largest and most competitive mariachi vocal competition in the world and the only one of its kind judged by members of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán. Students from elementary through the university level compete.
The group from McAllen High includes seniors Natalie Carmona, Ashley Trevino and Jenika Montes; junior Roxeth Gonzalez and freshman Lea Garcia. All are members of the McAllen High Mariachi Oro – a six-time state champion.
“Congratulations to these exceptionally talented young ladies on advancing to the 2020 Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza National Vocal Competition,” Mariachi Oro Head Director Alex Trevino said. “We are extremely proud of all of them for their hard work, passion and dedication to advance to this level. We are blessed to have had five out of six McHi Mariachi Oro members that auditioned make it all the way through to the finals representing McAllen High and McAllen ISD along with other talented students from around the nation. What an honor.”
Students will submit final round videos by Nov. 6. They will be judged and showcased as part of the live YouTube and Facebook event in early December.
McAllen ISD has been named a national Best Community for Music Education every year since 2013. Only about six percent of school districts in the nation achieve this distinction.
Photo caption
Clockwise from left, Natalie Carmona, Ashley Treviño, Roxeth González, Jenika Montes and Lea García have all qualified for the 26th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza National Vocal Competition.