Record Number of Students Participate in TAMIU's Fiesta de Mariachi

A record number of 550 middle and high school students participated in Texas A&M International University's Fiesta de Mariachi last weekend, a first for the fifth offering of the annual festival.

Betty Momayezi, executive director of Student Life, hailed the event a success, noting that students from 23 middle or high schools from throughout the city and region participated in the competitions held at TAMIU and the Laredo Entertainment Center.

Fiesta de Mariachi sponsors were Sames Motor Company, Ford Motor Company, Ford Motor Credit, Laredo Entertainment Center and TAMIU.

High School Competition winners were classified according to Open Classification, or those who practiced after school hours, and Encore Classification, or those who practiced during school hours for credit.

Winners of the High School Competition Open Classification were:

1st place, Mariachi "Orgullo de Mi Ciudad," from McAllen Independent School District; 2nd place, Mariachi "Galas de Oro," Alexander High School; and 3rd place, Mariachi "Del Mar," United High School.

In the Open Classification, the following were also awarded: Best Flute Section, Alexander High School; Best Trumpet Section, Alexander High School; Best Male Vocalist, Isidro Saldívar, from Alexander High School; Best Vocal Section, McAllen ISD; Best Violin Section, McAllen ISD; Best Armonía Section, McAllen ISD; Best Female Vocalist, Michelle Gómez, McAllen ISD; and Best General Effect, McAllen ISD. The Most Valuable Player award was given to Tiffany Cortéz, guitarrón player from Alexander High School.

Winners of the High School Competition Encore Classification were:

1st place, Mariachi "Nuevo Santander" from Roma High School; 2nd place, Mariachi "Oro de Edinburg North," Edinburg High School; and 3rd place, Mariachi "Aguilas Del Norte," Eagle Pass High School.

The following were also awarded in the Encore Classification: Best Trumpet Section, Roma High School; Best Male Vocalist, José Luís Rangel, Economedes High School; Best Vocal Section, Roma High School; Best Violin Section, Roma High School; Best Armonía Section, Roma High School; Best Female Vocalist, Hilda Cintrón, Eagle Pass High School; and Best General Effect, Roma High School. The Most Valuable Player award was given to Abiel Hinojosa, from Roma High School.

Winners of the Middle School Competition were:

1st place, Mariachi Galitas, United Middle School; 2nd place, Mariachi Escandón, Roma Middle School; and 3rd place, Mariachi Juvenil Halcon-Maroon, Zapata Middle School.

Judges awarded Discretionary Awards to United Middle School's Mariachi Galitas' violin section; Zapata Middle School's Mariachi Juvenil Halcon-Maroon's violin and trumpet sections, and Edison Junior High School's armonía section.

High school and middle school All Star groups were also announced.

The All Stars for the High School division were, Cigarroa High School, Manuel Montes; McAllen ISD, Michelle Gómez, Adán Moya, Dolores Samaniego and Vicky Camacho; J.B. Alexander High School, Isidro Saldívar; Cigarroa High School, Lizet Contreras, Nora Bolaños, and Pedro Ramos; Eagle Pass High School, Hilda Cintrón and Luis Perea; Roma High School, Abiel Hinojosa, Mayra Guerra, Karina Alanís, Héctor Martínez, Luis Villarreal, and Danny Garza; Edinburg North High School, Moisés Tobias, Vanessa Alejandro, Aissa Robledo, Valerie Patterson and Becky Merrill; Eagle Pass High School-CC Winn, Rita López and Victor Escandón; Zapata High School, Cindy Gutiérrez; Economedes High School, Erica Lazo, José Luis Rangel, Angel Carreón, and Aldo García; and Southwest High School, Jairo Salazar.

All Stars for the Middle School division were: Irvin Middle School, Andrés Torres and Erica Campos; Zapata Middle School, Ademar Martínez, Robert Dietert, Ashley Valadéz, and Adela Alvarez; Roma Middle School, Julio Moreno; Trautmann Middle School, Sonia Mares; Edison Jr. High School, Rosendo Ramos; and Cigarroa Middle School, Juan Villa, Wimberly Arredondo, Jorge Ramírez, and Josh Ramírez.

For further information on the Fiesta de Mariachi, please contact Betty Momayezi at 326-2332, e-mail bmomayezi@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in Student Center, room 118B.

University office hours during Spring semester are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Effective May 16, the University will begin summer hours with services from 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Offices will be closed on Fridays.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu