The Tucson International Mariachi Conference returned this week. It began on April 23, and goes through Sunday, April 27, with authentic mariachi and folklórico performances, workshops and cultural celebrations.
Alfonso Dancil, chairman of the board of directors for the Tucson International Mariachi Conference, said he likes to say that they host the longest continuously running mariachi conference in the world.“The majority of the instructors, local instructors, professional instructors, actually took the classes 40 years ago, and they’re coming back to teach these students.”
The conference began on Wednesday evening, with the “El Mariachi Canta” vocal competition at the MSA Annex. The competition was judged on several factors, including stage presence, timing, music and overall concept.
“The biggest part of that would be that they are timed 12 minutes, a minute and a half on stage, nine minute performance and a minute and a half off the stage. And then if they go longer than that, they do get points taken off,” Dancil said.
On Thursday, the showcase concert will feature performances by young mariachi musicians and folklórico dancers at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall. Friday brings the Espectacular Concert, with performances by Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán and Mariachi Femenil Nuevo Tecalitlán. In addition, winners from Wednesday’s competition will “actually play in the concert on Friday night at the (Tucson Convention Center),” Dancil said.
On Saturday, the Festival de Garibaldi will offer music and dancing at Downtown Tucson’s Jácome Plaza from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The conference concludes Sunday with a Mariachi Mass, free and open to the public, at St. Augustine Cathedral at 12 p.m.
Workshops with teachers from Mexico and local community groups will continue on Thursday and Friday morning. The cost to register for the workshops at the master level is $165 per person and $115 for the lower level. Those interested in registering for the workshops can do so at tucsonmariachi.org. Tickets for other days can also be purchased on the same website.
Admission to the Festival de Garibaldi is free for children 7 and under, $10 for children 8-18, $20 for adults and $10 for those over 65. The cost to attend the Espectacular Concert varies by seat, with tickets ranging from $50 to $180.
The community partners for this year’s mariachi conference include the city of Tucson, Rio Nuevo, Visit Tucson and sponsors such as Pima County, O’Reilly’s and others.
The board also sponsors the Los Padrinos Scholarship, which helps provide funding for students who cannot afford to attend the workshops.
“So they get to apply for a waiver, and they have to actually get a recommendation from their parents or from their teacher, their principal, and then write a short essay explaining why they want to be in the workshops,” Dancil said. “We actually chose 30 students this year to attend workshops by waiver.”
Tucson International Mariachi Conference
WHEN: Through April 27
WHERE: Venues vary; see website for details
INFO: tucsonmariachi.org
