The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

MASA explores volunteering at mariachi fest

Mexican American Student Association members can earn their mandatory volunteer hours by working at the 24th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza this week, the club learned at its meeting on Oct. 29.

Approximately 40 members attended the meeting in modular building B-B1F.

Cynthia Munoz, the event’s producer and president of Munoz of Public Relations, told the club she seeks volunteers for the annual event Nov. 11-18 in San Antonio. It is the longest-running and largest mariachi festival in Texas, she said.

“We are so proud of what we do because we really feel like it features the very best of our culture,” Munoz said.

The 24th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza will bring in 1,000 musicians from all over the country, she said. The festival was scheduled to open with a Mariachi Mass at noon, Nov. 11 at Mission San Jose, followed by a series of events leading to the main competition.

The National Mariachi Vocal Competitions are at 5 p.m., Nov. 16., followed by National Mariachi Group Competitions at 3:30 p.m., Nov. 17. The National Mariachi Group Competition Finals are at 1 p.m., Nov. 18. The competitions will take place at the Lila Cockrell Theatre, 200 E. Market St.

Volunteers are needed for workshops to monitor classrooms 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Nov. 17 at Lila Cockrell Theater and for vocal competitions at 5-10 p.m. In a phone interview Nov 9, special events coordinator Isabella Rodriguez said the event also needs volunteers for duties such as bringing the mariachi groups to the stage. If interested in volunteering, students can email Isabella Rodriguez at irodr021@jaguar.tamu.edu.

Rodriguez said Texas A&M University-San Antonio will provide at least 10 student volunteers.

Other events include:

History of Mariachi Music & the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza at 4 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Forest Hills Branch Library
Serenata en el Rio at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Rivercenter Mall Lagoon

The extravaganza gives mariachi lovers an opportunity to learn its rich history, enjoy live concerts, engage in music workshops and watch competitions.

“What we do is we utilize the mariachi music platform to promote higher education and culture presentation among Mexican and Mexican American youth,” Munoz said.

Munoz, who has served as producer consistently for the the past 24 years, said the festival will feature Mariachi Vargas. The group has been around for 120 years with six generations and has recorded more than 200 albums.

Munoz said most people know mariachi as musicians standing over your shoulder at a Mexican restaurant, but attending their events allows them to experience it differently through a new and elegant setting.

The first mariachi music festival in the United States was held in 1979 in San Antonio organized by Belle San Miguel Ortiz. It featured Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan.

“It is an incredible honor to work with some the most incredible artists in the world,” Munoz said.

MASA will meet again at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19 in Modular Building B-B1F. Members will discuss the Lights of Esperanza event 6-8 p.m Tuesday Nov. 27 and fall graduation celebrations.

For more information visit: Mariachi Music

About the Authors

Jaclyn Campbell
Jaclyn Campbell is a senior communications major with a business administration minor at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. She currently works for Acelity as a contract analyst and part-time as an online ESL teacher. In her free time, she enjoys photography, DIY crafts, kickboxing, binge-watching shows and naps. She dreams to one day own her own DIY craft studio.
Jessica Tennyson
Jessica Tennyson is a senior communication major at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. In addition to being a full-time student, she works full time as a waitress to help get through school. She enjoys traveling around the world whenever possible. She plans to travel the world slowly but surely and has already crossed 12 different countries off of her list. She plans to pursue a career in public relations when she graduates.

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