Celeste Cruz / Vaquero Radio
Festiba is an annual festival that gives the opportunity to middle school and high school students to participate in workshops and compete in the mariachi ensemble and vocal competitions.
The competition takes place at UTRGV and promotes the importance of art and music.
Member of Mariachi Aztlan Joel Sanchez explained the purpose of the Festiba festival is to learn from other mariachis.
“Just to have like a bunch of highschoolers come over and learn from one of the best mariachis in the United States, Mariachi Sol de Mexico,” Sanchez said. “They get to do workshops with them, they get to study, they get to learn and as far as that they also get to compete in vocal competitions and high school/middle school group competitions.”
He added Festiba has grown throughout the years.
“The competition has really grown so much, and for tonight’s event, you know, the concert is already sold out,” Sanchez said. “That just shows the growth that this festival has had over the years.”
Member of Mariachi Juvenil Aztlan Ximena Garcia was able to work behind the scenes of Festiba for the first time and saw the festival through another perspective.
“It’s a bit of a culture shock because back in high school, I would always just witness Festiba in a competitor’s perspective,” Garcia said. “And now, being behind the scenes and all that stuff, it is a bit different to help out the high schools that I used to be in. … It’s a bit nostalgic in a way even though it hasn’t been that long.”
She added the future generation of mariachi students is just having fun.
“Mariachi, at the end of the day, is supposed to be something fun, something you enjoy, something that you can express your heart out with, so I would say just feel it from your heart,” Garcia said.
Grulla high school student and member of Mariachi Grulla de Plata Lorraine Garza competed in Festiba and earned first place for the 4A high school varsity category. Garza said she spent a lot of time preparing for Festiba.
“We would stay till 9 p.m.,” she said. “That’s why I say I see these people more than I see my family because it would be like every three times a week till 9 p.m., so it was hard but I know it was gonna be worth it.”
To learn more about future events from Mariachi Aztlan or Juvenil Aztlan, visit their Instagrams @mariachiaztlanutrgv and @mariachijuvenilaztlan.
This is Celeste Cruz for Vaquero Radio.
