Mariachi Vargas features the best programs in the country
The College of Southern Nevada’s Mariachi Plata took first place this weekend in the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza national competition in San Antonio, Texas.
Considered the “Super Bowl” of mariachi competitions, Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza saw CSN compete against long-established mariachi from the top schools in the country. Mariachi Plata began competing in 2019.
“I am so proud of our Mariachi Plata, which we started in my first year at CSN,” said CSN President Federico Zaragoza. “Las Vegas has a large and talented Hispanic and Mexican community and mariachi speaks to who we are as a Mexican community.
“Winning the Mariachi Vargas competition is big. This was a big national upset and our students worked so hard to accomplish this goal. Fine Arts Chair Robert Bonora, Coach Fernando Gonzalez, his assistant Lupe Gonzalez, and our students had the vision and made their dream happen. This is still sinking in, wow. CSN’s Mariachi Plata is the best mariachi in the country. Congratulations Mariachi Plata. You make us CSN Proud!”
Mariachi Plata is comprised of students from CSN’s mariachi courses, part of its fine arts music curriculum. Bonora credited talented faculty, as well as Coach Gonzalez and his wife and assistant, for their dedication to CSN’s Students First mission.
“We’ve gone right to the center of the mariachi world in the United States and competed and come out on top,” he said.
In addition to the team’s first-place win, vocalist Jose Mejia took third in the individual competition. Mejia previously took first place in that competition in 2019, the first year Mariachi Plata competed.
Mariachi Plata will be joined at 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 8, by mariachi from Del Sol Academy of The Performing Arts, Las Vegas High School, and KO Knudson Middle School for a concert also featuring CSN Ballet Folklorico. Tickets may be purchased online at www.csn.edu/pac.
