The extravaganza is the largest running competition in the country with nearly 1,200 students.
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio high school musicians from John Jay’s Mariachi Jalisco are putting on a show for the 30th Annual Mariachi Extravaganza.
It’s the largest running competition in the country, with nearly 1,200 students, teachers and musicians coming to the Alamo City.
The competition started Thursday and will last until Saturday.
John Jay Mariachi is one of five schools in the city participating in this competition and the students have been rehearsing around the clock. This is their third year in the competition.
Many of the students started playing in middle school and always dreamed of performing mariachi.
According to the event creator, the number of mariachi groups in San Antonio has been growing.
“Thirty years ago, there may have been a few hundred students involved in school-based mariachi programs in San Antonio,” said Cynthia Muñoz, the Mariachi Extravaganza’s founder.
Now, Mariachi Jalisco is one of 50 groups in this national competition, ranging from middle school bands to universities.
Trophies, medals, scholarships and prizes will go to the top performers, with the grand champion performing with the world-renowned Mariachi Vargas from Mexico City.
Muñoz says this experience was created to promote higher learning and cultural preservation.
And the students at John Jay are ready to put on a show.
“I want them to feel excited, like a rush of adrenaline and dopamine. It’s going to be spectacular,” said Aaron Rios, Mariachi Jalisco performer.
“Just seeing the smiles on people’s faces when I perform is amazing. It’s a beautiful exchange of energy,” said Danyela Garay, another Mariachi Jalisco performer.
The extravaganza is happening at the Lila Cockrell Theater. It starts at 2 p.m., and tickets are available here.
